Smuggler conceals gold in face mask, nabbed

On Monday, four passengers who had landed here from Dubai were intercepted at the exit on suspicion of carrying gold. On personal search, two packets of gold paste, weighing 114 g were found stitched inside the face mask of one passenger. The officials also recovered a 50 g gold chain from the man.

The other three passengers were found carrying gold in paste form concealed in their rectum. In all, 1.84 kg gold, estimated to be worth Rs 97.82 lakh, was recovered and seized, and three of them were arrested.

Earlier, seven passengers who arrived from Dubai on two flights were frisked on suspicion. One of them had five plastic pouches containing gold in paste form stitched inside his jeans, while another was carrying five gold cut bits in his pant pocket. The other five had 12 gold paste bundles in their rectum.

In total, 1.65 kg gold worth Rs 87.48 lakh was recovered and seized. Two of them were arrested.

Totally, 3.5 kg gold worth Rs 1.85 crores was seized under Customs Act, and five persons were arrested.