Customs Air Intelligence sleuths have foiled four attempts to smuggle gold through the international airport here and seized about 1.28 kg of gold.
In the first case, officials intercepted a Malappuram native, who had landed here from Dubai late on Sunday, and seized three gold biscuits concealed in his rectum. A few hours later, they intercepted another passenger from Dubai on suspicion and recovered three gold biscuits from his rectum. The third seizure was from a Thrissur native, who landed here from Doha with two crude chains, concealed in his inner wear. In the fourth case, the officials intercepted another Malappuram native, who had landed from Sharjah and recovered two gold biscuits concealed in his rectum.
The total value of the gold seized is estimated to be around ₹39 lakh. Officials attribute the rush of gold through the State’s airports to some Middle-East based syndicates regularly transporting people between Kerala and the Gulf.
