Three youths who attempted to smuggle gold biscuits and jewellery worth Rs 1.5 crore were apprehended by the Customs officials at the Chennai airport on Wednesday night.
Customs sources said the Air Intelligence Unit received specific information about smuggling of gold from Southeast Asian destinations, following which they increased their vigil. Around 11.45 p.m. on Wednesday, the officials intercepted three youths, including two girls, who arrived from Bangkok.
They were identified as Tejas (27), Anjum Ahmed (23) and Sharvari Jayaprakash (22). Officials said all of them hailed from places in and around Bhatkal, in Karnataka. The trio kept gold weighing 4.8 kg concealed under their inner garments, said the authorities.
The two girls, Ms. Anjum and Ms. Sharvari told the Customs officials that in order to repay their education loan, they acted as carriers. This is the second foreign trip for the girls and they obtained their passports only recently, the officials said. Further investigation is on.
