Kolkata: Man swallows 227.3 gram of gold, caught at airport

Customs officials at the airport in Kolkata have detained a person for allegedly trying to smuggle 227.3 gram of gold into India by carrying it in his stomach.

The officials today said, the accused man, a resident of Chennai, had landed at the NSCB International Airport from Kuala Lampur on Sunday. As his movements were suspicious, customs officials searched him but nothing was found.

However, during interrogation the passenger said he swallowed nine small gold balls, the officials said. He was administered medicine for two days and finally the gold balls having a total weight of 227.3 gram came out on Tuesday.

The balls valued at Rs 5.80 lakh were seized but the passenger was released as the amount was less than legal limit for arrest, the officials said. Airport officials had arrested on Saturday another man from Chennai in the same airport, who allegedly brought 600 gram of gold, valued at Rs 16 lakh, from Dhaka by carrying it in his rectum.