TIRUCHI
In separate cases, officials of Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized gold in various forms smuggled by four overseas passengers at Tiruchi international airport.
While two seizures were made on Monday, the other two were made on Tuesday. The seized gold, totally weighing 437 grams, was concealed in footwear and fish tins.
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Customs sources said gold in the form of 143 toothpicks, valued at ₹3.03 lakh, was seized from Mohamed Nagore Hanifa of Ilayangudi in Sivaganga district when he arrived here from Kuala Lumpur by an Air Asia flight on Tuesday morning. The gold was found concealed in a fish tin.
In another case, the AIU officials found gold in thin toothpick form, numbering 143 and valued at ₹3.03 lakh, from Riyas Khan of Chennai, who landed here from Kuala Lumpur by Malindo Air flight on Tuesday. In this case also the smuggled gold was found concealed in a fish tin, the sources said.
The AIU officials also seized 119 grams of unfinished gold in ring form and cut pieces, valued at ₹3.59 lakh, from Mohamed Anees of Tiruchi when he landed here from Kuala Lumpur by an Air Asia flight on Monday. The gold was concealed in footwear.
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The AIU officials found another passenger, Nagore Meena of Tiruchi, adopting a similar modus operandi and seized 120 grams of two unfinished gold pieces, valued at ₹3.60 lakh, from him. Nagore Meena arrived from Kuala Lumpur by an Air Asia flight on Monday.