Customs seize Rs 36Lakh smuggled gold

Chennai: Two Chennai residents were arrested after customs officials seized 1.2 kg of gold and Rs 18 lakh worth foreign currencies from them at Chennai international airport on Thursday.

The man, identified as Mohammed Kasim (30) arrived from Kuala Lumpur in a passenger flight at around 11.50 pm on Thursday. Customs officials had already been informed of gold being smuggled on this flight, sources said. They, therefore, were checking the bags of all passengers. However, one passenger named Mohammed Kasim did not declare anything at customs and tried to leave through the green channel. He was, however, intercepted and searched.

On searching his luggage, officials found two LED emergency lights that he brought from Malaysia, which had 12 pieces of gold bars concealed in them.

The total value of seized goods was Rs 36 lakh weighing 1.2 kg. The gold and the parts of the emergency lights were seized. A case was filed and Mohammed Kasim questioned.

Primary investigations revealed that Mohammed is only the carrier of the gold bars and a hunt for the main suspect is on. In another incident, the customs officials stopped Ismail (35) of Chennai who arrived at Chennai international airport to board Indigo airlines to Singapore on Thursday morning.

Officials searched his baggage on suspicion and found Rs 18.5 lakh worth US currencies in a hidden column in his baggage. In both the cases, the accused were detained and further investigations are on.