Chennai Air custom wings high alert preparedness has once again resulted in gold haul worth Rs 84 lakhs. On last Saturday night based on intelligence that gold was likely to be smuggled in from Dubai Chennai customs deployed a team of officers to keep an Eagle’s hawk on each and every passenger which paid a positive result.
Two passengers arrived by by Indigo Airlines Flight 6E 8497 Mohammad Mustafa Meerasa Maraikkayar, aged 43, Sahubar Ali Aynjai aged 39 and third passenger namely Habeeb Abdullah ,21, of Pudukkotai arrived by Air India Express flight IX 1644. All three of them intercepted at the exit of customs arrival hall by AIU officers on suspicion of carrying gold.
All three passengers were trying to behave as if they are innocent but customs officials were in no mood to take their theory. On persistent questioning they confessed that they are carrying bundles of gold paste concealed in rectum.
On their personal search two bundles each from Meerasa and Aynjai and three bundles from Abdullah. There were total 7 bundles along with 5 gold cut bits (weighing 100 grams each) also recovered. These gold cut bits were concealed in their trouser pant pockets.
In totality 1.52 kg gold of 24 karat purity was extracted from gold paste. The total 1.62 Kg gold was found in their possession which is valued at Rs. 83.7 lakhs. Entire smuggled gold was recovered and seized under Indian Customs Act 1962. All three have been arrested and further investigation is on.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
