In a major crackdown on hawala money and smuggling of gold, the Customs sleuths here have seized 1.5 kg of 24 carat gold estimated at nearly ₹60 lakh and unaccounted cash to the tune of ₹1.20 crore on Sunday.
Following a tip-off, the Customs sleuths intercepted a car, which was on its way to the town from Mangaluru, near Uppala in the evening and seized the currency notes in the denomination of ₹2,000 and ₹500 kept in a secret cavity in the vehicle.
The team included Kannur Divisional Assistant Customs Commissioner O. Pradeepan and Kasaragod Customs Superintendent P. P. Rajeev.
Based on information received from the car driver, Basheer, 60, of Thalangara, the officials raided a residence near Fort Road here and recovered the gold.
The team arrested Ramachandra Patil, the owner of the house, and Basheer, Mr. Rajeev told The Hindu.
