Gold, cigarettes, laptops seized at Chennai airport

Chennai: The customs sleuths at Chennai international airport seized gold, cigarettes and laptops worth Rs  45 lakh.

According to customs sources, two passengers, Abdul Rahman( 30) and Ibrahimsha( 29)  who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia flight were intercepted at the exit on suspicion of carrying gold.

Sources said as they appeared to be nervous their personal search, as well as a search of their baggage, were carried out. On personal search, three gold cut bits totally weighing 160 grams and gold in rubbery form concealed in the rectum were recovered. A total of 446 grams of gold valued at Rs 17.36 lakh was recovered.

Further on examination of their baggage 18 used/old laptops valued at Rs 90,000 were found.  Total goods valued at Rs 18.26 lakh were recovered and seized under the Customs Act 1962.

Similarly, earlier on  Monday,  Basheer Ahamed( 49)  and  Sheik Dawood( 32) both hailing from amanathapuram, who had arrived from Dubai by Indigo Airlines Flight were intercepted. During their personal search, three gold cut bits were recovered from their pant pockets. They also were found to carry gold in rubbery spread concealed in the rectum. Total gold weighing 642 gm of 24 K purity, valued at Rs 25 lakh was recovered. Further, on examination of their checked-in luggage 28 cartons of Benson & Hedges cigarettes valued at Rs 56,000 and 14  used/old laptops totally valued at Rs 70,000 were also recovered and same were
seized under Customs Act 1962.

In total  goods (gold, cigarettes and laptops) worth Rs 44.5 lakh seized under the Customs Act 1962. Further Investigation is under progress.