Hyderabad: Three held with gold at RGIA

Hyderabad: Three persons who were trying to smuggle gold bangles (kadams) and chains were arrested by customs officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Friday.

 Customs officials seized 1.23 kg gold worth Rs 36.09 lakh from them. After receiving a tip off officials of the Air Intelligence Unit of Hyderabad customs intercepted three passengers.

On inquiry, they found that one passenger was travelling to Hyderabad from Abu dhabi and had landed at the airport on an Etihad Airways flight (EY 274). He was found carrying 8 Kadams made of 24 carat gold weighing 342 grams. The estimated value of the seized gold is Rs 9,98,640.

In the second case two persons coming from Dubai who landed at Hyderabad on a Jet Airways flight (9W 549) were caught smuggling gold. One person was found smuggling two gold chains made of 24 karat gold weighing 387 grams worth Rs 11,30,040 and the other was caught carrying four kadams made of 24 karat gold weighing 507 grams worth Rs 14,80,444. The three were arrested and the gold was seized. The cases are being investigated.