Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized a little over one kilogram of gold smuggled by three overseas passengers at the Tiruchi international airport.
While a couple of seizures were made on Friday night, another case was reported on Saturday night. In all three cases, the passengers including a woman had arrived here from Kuala Lumpur. Airport sources said the AIU officials seized four gold pieces in rectangular shape and weighing 359 grams from Najmudeen (24) after he arrived from Kuala Lumpur by an Air Asia flight on Saturday night.
The gold pieces of 24 carat purity were found concealed in a soldering rod. The value of the seized yellow metal was put at ₹11 lakh. On Friday, the officials had seized six gold biscuits and a gold plate totally weighing 660 grams and valued at ₹20.27 lakh from Mohamed Iliyas who arrived by an Air Asia flight. The officials seized a couple of unfinished gold bangles besides a gold chain all of 24 carat purity totally weighing 349 grams from a woman by name Sumithra who also arrived by an Air Asia flight on Friday. The value of the seized gold was put at ₹10.74 lakh.
