Two Sri Lankan nationals, frequent travellers to India, were nabbed at the Visakhapatnam International Airport by the Customs officials while trying to smuggle gold on Thursday.
In one case, a man who swallowed two gold pieces, was caught and in another, a woman was found carrying gold jewellery worth 88 grams without declaring it as required under law.
Based on intelligence information, Hajira Umma Jeinul Abeden was intercepted when she tried to exit through the Green Channel. On verification, it was found that she was in possession of 88 grams of gold jewellery and tried to pass through Green Channel without declaring it to the Customs Department. The seized gold is valued at ₹2.41 lakh.
According to Commissioner of Customs D.K. Srinivas, in another case, on the basis information gathered by Air Intelligence Unit at the airport, they found Shareefdeen Mohamed Mahroof, who arrived in flight UL-159 was intercepted at the Green Channel for moving suspiciously. When questioned, he claimed that he was not carrying anything objectionable. On further verification on metal detector, he admitted he swallowed two pieces of gold. Immediately he was taken to King George Hospital to bring it out under medical supervision.
Further investigation is in progress.
