Chennai, Sept 22:
In a major operation, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a gold smuggling racket and seized 2.6 kg of 24-carat gold worth around Rs 4 crore, besides arresting six people, including Sri Lankan passengers, customs and X-ray department staffs at the Anna International airport here.
Those arrested included two Sri Lankan passengers, two Customs havaldars and two employees of the airport X-ray department.
Acting on a tip-off about the suspected involvement of some Group-C Customs staff in helping passengers carrying smuggled gold evade checks at the airport, the DRI officials maintained a constant surveillance on the movement of passengers arriving on international flights, particularly during the night and early morning hours, for several days.
The two Sri Lankan passengers who arrived by a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dubai via Colombo, attempted to leave without making any declaration. However, Customs officials stopped them on suspicion and checked their baggage. As nothing was found, the passengers were handed over to two havaldars and were allegedly sent to the X-ray section for further examination.
According to the DRI, the havaldars returned without subjecting the passengers to an X-ray examination and produced copies of earlier X-ray reports, claiming that nothing suspicious had been found.
DRI officials, who were monitoring the proceedings, intervened and took the passengers and the two havaldars to the X-ray section. They conducted fresh X-ray examinations, which revealed gold concealed in the rectal cavities of both the passengers. They were subsequently found carrying 2.6 kg of 24-carat gold bars, valued at Rs 4 crore.
After being taken to the DRI office in the city for questioning, the six arrested were produced before the Alandur Judicial Magistrate court and remanded in custody. They were later lodged at Puzhal prison.