The Chennai air customs based on a specific intelligence report seized 5.55 kg of gold worth Rs. 2.53 crore and foreign currency worth Rs. 24 lakhs seized. Six persons were arrested in smuggling activities.
The air intelligence unit of Chennai air customs was on high alert and keeping tab on every passenger’s movement who arrived from Dubai by Fly Dubai FZ8515. There was specific input about smuggling activities to be carried out; on that basis three passengers were intercepted at the exit gate. Three passengers namely Magroob Akbarali ,39,of Ramanathapuram and Zubair Hassan Rafiyutheen,26, all were from Chennai.
The custom officials felt suspicious about their hairstyles. On examination they were found to be wearing wigs and having partly tonsured heads. 2 gold paste packets weighing 698 grams were found concealed under their wigs which on extraction yielded 595 grams gold. In another case one Balu Ganesan,42, of Trichy, who arrived by the same flight was intercepted and on personal search 3 bundles of gold paste recovered from rectum which on extraction yielded 622 grams of gold. He was arrested.
Earlier on Saturday one Anbazhagan, 24, of Villupuram was intercepted at the exit. On personal search four packets of gold paste weighing 1.5 kg recovered which were concealed inside his socks and stitched inside his underwear. On extraction 1.33 kg gold valued at Rs. 62 lakhs recovered and seized. Thamin Ansari of Chennai, 26, the receiver of gold was also nabbed from outside from outside the airport when he approached the passenger to take the gold. Both were arrested.
Confiscated smuggled gold displayed by Chennai Air Customs
In another case on rummaging Indigo Flight 6E 66 eight 10 Tola gold bars with foreign marking weighing 933 grams valued at Rs. 43.30 lakhs was found in a cloth bag which was concealed in the hollow pipe beneath one of the aircraft seats.
Earlier on Friday Syed Ahamedulla,22, of Ramnathapuram ,Santhosh Selvam,33, of Salem & Abdullah, 35 , of Chennai who arrived from Dubai and Sharjah by flights EK 542 and G9471 were intercepted at exit. Their hair styles looked to be suspicious and on examination they were found to be having partly tonsured heads and wearing wigs. 3 gold paste packets 2410 grams were found concealed under their wigs were recovered.On extraction 2.08 kg gold valued at Rs. 96.57 lakhs was recovered and seized under Customs Act . All three arrested.
In another case four passengers bound for Sharjah by flights 6E8415 and G9 472 , were intercepted in the departure terminal after they had cleared Immigration and were proceeding towards the security hold area. As their hair styles appeared to be suspicious on examination they were found to be wearing wigs. On search 67500 Saudi Riyals concealed under their wigs and 4750 USD, 6500 Dirhams , 800000 Takas recovered from their pant pockets equivalent to Rs. 24.06 lakhs recovered and seized under Customs Act read with FEMA regulations 2015. Further investigation is under progress.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
