Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized over 30 kg of gold in a “massive operation” conducted at the airport here since Tuesday night.
Over 20 officers, led by a deputy director, launched the operation at around 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday acting on specific intelligence that a large number of “carriers” were smuggling gold through the airport.
Officers were drawn from DRI Chennai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi and Madurai to conduct checks.
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Passengers arriving from various flights were subject to intensive screening. Some passengers, who were suspected to have concealed the gold in their rectum, were subject to medical checks. Enquiries were conducted with “contact persons” waiting outside the airport based on the information provided by the carriers.
About 130 passengers arriving from “sensitive locations” such as Dubai, Sharjah, Malaysia and Singapore were “profiled and intercepted.”
On examination, over 30 kg of gold in various forms including jewellery, crude bits and paste form, concealed mostly on their person and bodies, were seized, a press release issued on Wednesday said.
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Several of the passengers were also found to be carrying cigarettes, electronic goods including iPhones and drones and other goods. Further investigation, in accordance with the Customs Act, 1962, was on.
It is not the first time that such operations are conducted at the airport, which has gained notoriety for gold smuggling in recent years.