CHENNAI: Customs officials at
Chennai international airport
on Tuesday seized 3.4kg gold worth 1.39 crore from six Sri Lankan passengers who arrived from Colombo. Three of them were arrested.
A customs official said they received a tip that a considerable quantity of 24-karat gold would be smuggled through the airport. Air intelligence unit (AIU) stepped up vigil at the arrival hall following the information. AIU officers intercepted six Sri Lankan nationals - Mohamed Rishan, 47, Althaf, 51, Mohamed Rimaz, 33, Mohammed Rafeek, 39, Mohamed Lahir, 36, and a woman named Smzul Wadeka Moulana, 45 - who arrived from Colombo by Sri Lankan flight UL121. On persistent questioning they admitted to having concealed gold in paste form in their rectum. Officials recovered 15 bundles of gold paste form them.
This gold paste was subjected to external heating that yielded 3.4kg gold.