Customs officers at the Chennai International Airport, seized 3.14kg gold worth Rs 1.3 crore in three separate incidents since last night.
On Tuesday night, Sri Lankan nationals Mohamed Huzaid, 27, and Chandrakumar, 23, who had arrived from Sri Lanka by Air India flight AI274 were intercepted at exit. Upon searching, five crude gold rings and four crude gold chains of 24k purity, weighing 948gm in total and valued at Rs 39.12 lakh, were recovered from their pant pockets and seized.
On the same night, Thanjavur native Madhavan, 21, who arrived from Dubai by flight EK 546, was intercepted at exit. Upon searching his checked-in bag, two long gold wires weighing 398gm and valued at Rs 16.43 lakh, were found concealed inside the beading of the bag, which were subsequently recovered and seized.
On Wednesday, based on a tip-off, Patiala natives Supreet Singh, 34, and Damanpreet Singh, 25, who arrived from Bangkok by Indigo flight 6E 92 were intercepted at exit. Two pouches of gold paste were found concealed in their turbans, and four bundles of gold paste were recovered from their innerwear and rectum. The gold paste amounted to 1.8kg, valued at Rs.74.20 lakh.
It was seized and both were arrested. Further investigation is underway.
