Chennai: 1.85 kg gold worth Rs 97.7 lakhs seized, 1 arrested

Air Customs officials in Chennai thwarted five cases of gold smuggling by Dubai returnees on Sunday and seized a total of 1.85 kg gold valued at Rs 97.7 lakh under the Customs Act. 

Late on Sunday night, Dhasthageer from Ramanathapuram who had arrived from Dubai via Fly Dubai FZ 8517 was intercepted. On frisking, he was found carrying one bundle of gold paste in rectum and one packet of gold paste was found taped on the ankle of his right. A total of 280 gram gold paste was recovered, which when extracted, yielded 243 grams of 24K purity gold, valued at Rs 12.8 lakh. The passenger was arrested based on a previous offence and the Gold was seized.

According to officials, four passengers who had arrived via Emirates flight EK-544 were intercepted and questioned based on suspicion of carrying gold bundles concealed in rectum. On frisking, 12 bundles of gold paste weighing 1.93 kg were recovered from their rectum. 

On extraction, 1.61 kg of 24K purity gold valued at Rs 84.94 lakhs was recovered and seized. The passengers who had attempted to smuggle gold were Mohamathu Tharig and Syed Mohamed Paris from Ramanathapuram and Sikkandar Masthan and Rahuman Khan from Chennai.