Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Chennai, seized 2.9 kilograms of gold, which was concealed in the rectum of six passengers who came here from Colombo on Thursday night. Giving the details, C. Rajan, Additional Director General, DRI, Chennai said on receiving a tip-off, they maintained vigil. Around 8 p.m. DRI officials intercepted six passengers who came from Colombo.
When their baggage was checked, the officials were unable to find any dutiable item. When the passengers were interrogated by the officials, they confessed to having concealed gold in the rectum. One of them had converted gold bars into rings, coated them with silver and put them on the handles of handbags. Mr. Rajan said four passengers were found to have concealed five gold biscuits each and the fifth passenger, six gold biscuits. All six are Indian passport holders, hailing from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts.
The passengers were identified as Naina Mohammed (51) of Pudukottai, Thasthakir Rawther (26), Bakkar Ali (40), Hanifa Jafar (43), Hameed (29) and Allapichai (37), all hailing from S.P. Pattinam in Ramanathapuram district. The seized gold was valued at Rs.83 lakh, Mr. Rajan said. The passengers have been remanded to custody.
