Chennai: Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on Saturday seized 1.7 kilogram gold, valued at Rs 87.6 lakh from five passengers who arrived from Dubai at the Anna International airport here.
A release from the Office of the Commissionerate of Customs said, based on intelligence, five passengers, Nouffar (28), Ahamed Ershad Ali (31), both hailing from Ramanathapuram, Nandha Kumar (23), a native of Kanchipuram, Muruganandam Mohan (38) of Chennai and Satham Usen (25) of Puddukottai, who arrived from Dubai by an Air India Express Flight were intercepted at the exit on suspicion of carrying gold.
On search, 16 gold cut bits weighing 597 grams were recovered from their hand baggage and two packets of gold paste were also recovered from two of them.
On personal search, one gold paste packet was found concealed in shoes beneath the foot of one of them and another was recovered from a jeans pocket.
A total of four gold paste packets were recovered from which 701 grams of gold was extracted.
Further, three bundles of gold paste totally weighing 428 grams were recovered from rectum of one of them which yielded 398 grams of gold on extraction.
In all 1.7 kilogram gold of 24k purity and valued at Rs 87.62 lakh was recovered and seized in five cases under the Customs Act.Further investigation is under process.
