Customs officers at Chennai airport seize gold, saffron
Three persons arrested in this regard.
Chennai: Customs officers at Chennai airport seized 1.8 kg gold worth `71.5 lakh and 26.5 kg of Iranian saffron worth Rs 63.6 lakhs. Three persons have been arrested in this regard.
On Sunday, based on specific information, 41-year-old Ameer Thekkulla Kandy from Ekarool and 29-year-old Haroon Nahar Moyath from Kozhikode arrived from Dubai by Emirates airlines. They were intercepted at the exit. On being searched, gold in the form of rubbery spread was found concealed inside the waistband of their pants. 1.82 kg of gold worth Rs 71.5 lakh was recovered and seized under the Customs Act of 1962. Both the passengers were arrested.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mohamed Javid Mushar (22) of Nagapattinam arrived from Dubai and was noticed to be roaming around suspiciously inside the arrival hall of the Chennai airport. After collecting his luggage from the conveyer belt, he was seen to be running in a hurried manner towards the exit and was intercepted by AIU officers.
On checking his bags, Termes saffron packets of Iranian origin were found. The saffron was packed in 25 gms pouches totally weighed 26.5 kg valued at Rs 63.60 lakh.