Chennai: Rs 4 crore gold seized from lady passenger

Chennai: Customs officials at Chennai Airport seized 13 kg of gold worth Rs 4 crore from a 52-year-old woman passenger, on Saturday. The arrested person was identified as Padma Amble Venkataramaiah (52) of Chikmagalur in Karnataka.

As Padma, who arrived from Dubai, appeared to be nervous and was walking in a suspicious manner, Customs officials intercepted her near the exit of the arrival hall and took her in for questioning.

“Her baggage did not contain any suspicious items but her responses were not satisfactory. Following this, a personal search was carried out by a lady officer. During the search, the lady officer noticed that passenger’s kurta was bulging around her waist,” the officials said.

On further search, 25 crude gold chains, which were tied around her waist, were recovered. Four gold kadas were also recovered from her. “The 25 gold chains and 4 kadas are of 24 karat purity and totally weighed 13kgs,” an official said. The total worth of the seized gold is Rs 4 crore.

Customs officials who arrested Padma Amble Venkataramaiahand have also initiated an enquiry to determine who are her contacts in Chennai and to whom she was supposed to deliver the smuggled gold.