In a significant bust, customs officials at Chennai Airport have seized gold worth Rs 2.61 crores from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The seizure occurred during a routine check of passengers disembarking from a Dubai flight two days ago.The passenger, identified as Vigneshwaran Raja, 35, of Tamil Nadu, drew the attention of customs officials as he walked through the green channel, which is meant for passengers with nothing to declare. Acting on suspicion, the officers intercepted Raja for further questioning.
During the inquiry, it was revealed that Raja had travelled to Dubai on a tourist visa. The officers proceeded to check his luggage and found a coffee maker in his possession. On dismantling the coffee maker, the officials discovered two gold bars hidden inside the machine. The gold bars weighed approximately 4 kilograms and were valued at Rs 2.61 crores.
Further investigation revealed Raja’s connections to international smuggling operations. Following his arrest, Raja was remanded in judicial custody and subsequently sent to prison.
This incident underscores the ongoing efforts of customs officials to curb gold smuggling and other illegal activities at airports. The vigilance and swift action by the customs department not only thwarted the smuggling attempt but also highlighted the innovative methods smugglers employ to evade detection.