Gold, foreign currency worth Rs 79.23 lakh seized by customs at Chennai Airport

In two separate cases, the Chennai Airport Customs officials seized 1.5kg gold from a passenger who had arrived from Dubai and seized foreign currency from another Dubai-bound passenger. 

According to officials, on Monday morning they noticed a passenger enter the arrival area washroom and he is said to have remained there for a considerable time. On checking, he was found to be hiding there and turned nervous on being questioned. He confessed to having brought gold for smuggling and said that he hid it in the toilet. 

One packet wrapped with black adhesive tape was recovered, from which, two gold bars, a 1kg bar with marking MTM A011103 and another half Kg bar without marking, totally weighing 1.5 kg and valued at Rs 71.85 lakh were recovered and seized under Customs Act. The passenger, Ajmal Khan from Vellore was arrested.  

On Sunday night, Rahuman Hameed, of Ramanathapuram was intercepted after he had cleared Immigration and was proceeding towards the security hold area for boarding Fly Dubai flight FZ 8516. Frisking led to the recovery of a bundle wrapped with black adhesive tape hidden near his rectum. 

USD 5000 in denomination of 100 were recovered from the bundle, USD3300 and 7500 Saudi Riyals in denomination of 500 were recovered from his hand baggage. Total 8300 USD and 7500 Saudi Riyals, worth Rs 7.38 lakh were recovered and seized under the Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA (Export and import of currency) Regulations. He was arrested as he had a previous offence registered against him.