Chennai: 12 arrested in four cases of gold smuggling

Chennai: The Customs officials at Chennai International Airport have detected four cases of gold smuggling on Tuesday and Wednesday. In alll 12 people were detained and probe is on.

According to airport sources, the officials at the airport had intercepted eight air passengers including three women who arrived at Chennai airport from Colombo in Sri Lankan Airlines and Indigo airlines on Tuesday morning. On suspicion, officials searched their baggage and found nothing dubious. On their personal search 2.4 kilograms were found concealed in their rectum. The officials seized the gold pieces and detained them.

Similarly, based on a specific tip-off, the officials intercepted a 35-year-old man who arrived at the Chennai airport through Air India flight from Kuala Lumpur. Upon search of his baggage, gold of foreign origin, totally weighing 600 grams gold sheets, were found kept in a hidden column in his suitcase.

In another incident, three Chennai residents arrived at Chennai international airport to board a flight to Dubai on Wednesday. Based on a tip-off, they were intercepted.

During the search, the officers found foreign currencies worth `37 lakh from their innerwear.  even though they attempted to leave via the green-channel, without declaring anything during the customs check.

During the search, the officers found Foreign currencies worth Rs.37 lakhs from their innerwear. They were detained and the currencies seized from them under customs act 1962.

A total of Three kilograms of gold valued at One crore and foreign currencies worth Rs. 37 lakhs were seized from twelve passengers. All of them were detained and further invetsiagstiosn are underway