IA staff held, gold seized

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 25. A senior security assistant of Indian Airlines was caught ``red handed'' by the officers of Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) customs officials at the Anna International airport this morning with 48 gold biscuits, weighing 5.60 kg, concealed in his waist.

The Joint Commissioner of Customs (Airport), Mr.P.V.R. Reddy, told a press conference that the AIU officers effected the seizure from the airline security staff, while he was attempting to surreptitiously remove the yellow metal, with foreign markings, valued at Rs.25 lakhs, through the restricted tarmac area of the international airport.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the gold biscuits were brought in by some passengers from Kuala Lumpur by a Malaysia Airlines flight which landed here yesterday midnight and it was intended to be collected by this security staff for being delivered outside, Mr. Reddy said.

The IA security staff was nabbed at the tarmac area after he collected a well-stitched small rexine pouch in which the gold biscuits were hidden under a wash basin of the airport toilet located at the airport arrival hall near the Immigration counter. The gold biscuits were neatly packed in four rows. The arrested security staff was on duty at the international airport to attend the departure of the Indian Airlines Singapore-bound flight.

Mr. Reddy said the Customs Department would be writing an official letter to the Indian Airlines Regional Director (South) to initiate suitable disciplinary action against the staff and to the State Government to recommend the staff to be detained under COFEPOSA.

The name of the IA senior security staff was given as Mr. Gowri Shankar.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Regional
Previous : Case against Muthiah's daughter: verdict on April
           28
Next     : TTK Group chairman dead