Gold worth Rs 1.64 cr seized from aircraft

Based on an intelligence input that gold was likely to be smuggled by concealing it in the aircraft, the officials from the Air Customs rummaged Air India Express Flight which arrived at the city airport from Dubai on Wednesday night.

Concealed under one of the seats, they spotted a pouch. Inside that, they found two bundles of gold paste and two gold bars weighing 116.5 grams each. In all, 928 gram gold, estimated to be worth Rs 48.27 lakh, was recovered and seized as unclaimed by the Customs.

The officials also nabbed a passenger who arrived by the same flight, as he was found carrying 169 gram gold concealed in his socks.

On Wednesday, four passengers who arrived from Dubai were intercepted at the exit on suspicion. When they were searched, officials found 11 bundles of gold paste concealed in their rectum. Totally 1.2 kg gold valued at Rs 61.5 lakh was recovered. Two of the passengers were arrested. On Tuesday night, officials stopped five passengers at the exit. They too were found smuggling gold in their rectum in the form of gold paste.

The eight bundles they were carrying had 858 gram gold valued at Rs 45.5 lakh.