Mangaluru: Customs officials seize Iranian saffron worth Rs 13.75 lakh at Airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 2, 2015: The Officers of Customs at Mangalore International Airport seized 11-kgs of ’Tashrifat’ brand Iranian saffron approximately valued at Rs 13,75,000 from a passenger Moideen Salman, who arrived from Dubai on Saturday, May 2.

The passenger had concealed the saffron along with clothes and other personal effects inside two carton boxes which he brought along with him as his checked in baggage.

 

 

Moideen Salman, 23, who arrived at MIA at morning 7:50am by Jet Airways Flight 9W531 from Dubai, is a resident of Kasargod, Kerala.

Further investigation is under progress, N Udayashankaran, assistant commissioner of customs, airport stated. Incidentally, the best quality Iranian saffron is valued at Rs 2 lakh/kg and Iran accounts for 95% of global production. It takes 1 lakh flowers to produce 1 kg of saffron, and output is typically just half a kg per hectare.