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Rs 64 lakh gold seized by customs at MIA from flyers during November 2017


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 30, 2017: During the month of November 2017, the Customs Officers at Mangaluru International Airport seized gold valued over about Rs.64 lakhs in 6 different cases of smuggling. The smugglers had used diverse modus operandi to bring in the contraband.

In a case involving seizure of 803 grams of gold, gold powder was mixed with a chemical to form a gum and filled into the hollows of the sandals worn by him.  In another case, a passenger had hidden four gold biscuits weighing 466.4 grams, under the arc of his feet, which were covered with foot bands and had then worn socks over it. On the same day, another passenger intercepted was found to be in possession of 3 cut pieces of gold biscuit weighing 184.29 grams in the inner pocket of his trousers.


gold smuggling at mangalore airport


Gold smuggling in sandal


Next day another case was detected where a passenger had concealed 4 gold biscuits weighing 466.5 grams in his rectum.  In yet other two cases, two passengers had worn gold khadas, weighing 221 gms, which were coated with Rhodium to make it appear like steel.

The total weight of gold seized during the month is 2.141 Kgs and valued at Rs. 64.38 lakhs.  Among the 6 passengers intercepted for smuggling gold,  3 hailed from Kasargod, 2 from Bhatkal and one from South Kanara and all had arrived from Dubai.  One passenger was arrested and investigation is in progress in all the cases.

The ingenious and varied modus operandi adopted by the passengers, while  attempting to smuggle gold through Mangalore International Airport have been thwarted by the vigilant officers at the airport.