In a combined operation officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs seized 1.5 kg of smuggled gold and apprehended an air passenger and a ground handling staff at the airport here on Wednesday.
The air passenger Murugesan and the ground handling staff Sathyaseelan were subsequently taken for inquiry upon seizure of the smuggled gold biscuits. Airport sources said the DRI officers received a tip off regarding smuggling of gold and mounted a vigil along with Customs officials at the international airport. The passenger landed in Tiruchi by an Air India Express flight that came from Singapore in the afternoon and later left for Chennai.
The sources said the offence was reportedly carried out with connivance of the ground handling staff here.
Murugesan, the sources said, reportedly handed over a purse containing gold biscuits to Sathyaseelan at the aero bridge to avoid detection by the Customs.
Based on the tip off, the DRI officials caught the two within the airport and seized the smuggled consignment.
