Customs seizes precious stones worth Rs 31.4 lakh from air passengers

As they were checking the passengers who arrived from Colombo, the officials spotted a passenger who was trying to get out in a hurry. They stopped the man, later identified as Shabdeen (66) of Chennai.

On personal search, they found two bundles wrapped in adhesive tape concealed in his rectum. Inside that were precious stones. The stones were identified as yellow and blue sapphires, rubies, chrysoberyl cat’s eye of various cuts, sizes and colours.

The statement from Customs said the gems weighed 3,058 carats, with an estimated worth of Rs 31.4 lakh. The officials seized the stones.

During inquiry, Shabdeen said he was to handover the gems to some unknown person outside the airport. But when he was taken out, no one approached him. Later, Shabdeen was arrested.

In another case, Arthi Manoharan (22) of Tiruchy, who was to take a flight to Colombo, was intercepted after she cleared the immigration check. When the officials searched her handbag, they found a bundle wrapped with black adhesive tape. They cut it open and found four gold bars concealed inside, weighing about 1.496 kg and estimated to be worth Rs 67.50 lakh.

During questioning, she told the officials she collected the bundle from the restroom and was about to handover it to some unknown person waiting outside the airport. The officials seized the gold and arrested her for further inquiry.

In the last case, Seik Abdullah (54) who arrived from Singapore, was intercepted at the exit. Officials recovered three bundles of gold in paste form concealed in his rectum. On extraction, 358 gram of gold worth Rs 16.50 lakh was recovered and seized.