Chennai: Customs seizes Rs 19 lakh worth gold, liquor

Chennai: Customs officials at the city airport seized Rs 19 lakh worth gold, liquor and cigarettes on Wednesday. Based on a specific tip-off, Susai Alexander (62) and Robert Tinku (29) of Chennai, who had arrived from Myanmar via Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight were intercepted. As both appeared to be nervous and gave evasive replies on being questioned, their personal search was carried out.

During a search, 6 gold cut bits of 24 K purity weighing 210 grams valued at Rs 8.26 lakh was recovered. On further examination of their checked-in luggage  20 bottles of  Remy Martin cognac valued at Rs1.18 lakh and 20 cartons of  Davidoff classic cigarettes valued at Rs 40,000 were found concealed in their personal effects. The total goods valued at Rs 9.84 lakh was recovered from both passengers and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act 1962.

In another case on the same day, Nazeer Basha (54) of Hyderabad, who had arrived from Riyadh via Sharjah by an Air Arabia flight was intercepted on suspicion. On examination of his checked-in baggage, a red emergency light which appeared to be unusually heavy was found concealed in his personal effects. On dismantling the emergency light, gold weighing 233 grams and valued at `9.17 lakh was found concealed in the battery compartment. This was recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act 1962.

In total, goods worth Rs 19 lakh (gold worth Rs. 17.43 lakh, liquor worth Rs 1.18 lakh and cigarettes worth Rs 40,000/-) were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act 1962. Further Investigation is under progress.