Chennai: Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on Sunday seized 10,000 US Dollars and 799 gms gold worth Rs 41.56 lakh and arrested one person at the international airport in Chennai.
A release from the office of the Commissioner of Customs said based on intelligence, one passenger Nagoor Meeran (54), who was heading to Dubai by an Emirates flight was intercepted at the departure terminal while he was proceeding to the security hold area after immigration, on suspicion that he might be carrying foreign currency.
On examination of his check in baggage, a white envelope concealed among personal effects was recovered.
The customs officials opened it and found 10,000 US Dollars in the denomination of 100, equivalent to Rs 7.35 lakh, recovered and seized them under the Customs Act, 1962 read with FEMA (Export and Import of currency) Regulations, 2015.
Two cases of gold smuggling were also detected.O ne Siddiq Sheik Abdullah (25) of Pudukkottai, who arrived from Dubai by an Air India flight was intercepted and three bundles of gold paste weighing 656 grams were recovered from rectum which on extraction yielded 596 grams gold.
A 49 gram gold cut bit was also recovered from his pant pocket. A total of 645 grams gold of 24 K purity valued at Rs 33.6 lakh was recovered and seized and the passenger was arrested.
In another seizure, one Mohamed Rifath (36) of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Dubai by Fly Dubai flight was intercepted and on search, one bundle of gold paste of 172 grams was recovered from rectum which on extraction yielded 154 grams of gold worth Rs 7.9 lakhs and seized.
Total 799 grams of gold worth Rs 41.56 lakhs recovered and seized under the Customs Act. Further investigation is under progress.