Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Customs sleuths at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) seized gold and saffron worth Rs 1.15 crore from three passengers arriving from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The passengers, hailing from Kasaragod and Honnavar, were traveling by Air India and Indigo flights between December 8 and 11. Suspicious behaviour from the passengers prompted the customs officials to detain one individual, from whom gold in paste form was recovered, concealed inside his underwear.

In another case, gold was found hidden in two oval-shaped objects secreted inside the passenger’s body.

Further investigation led to the recovery of gold powder concealed by being pasted and inserted into the base of the passenger’s checked-in carton box.

The haul also included 1,429 grams of small rings made of 24K purity gold, 48 grams of assorted 18K gold jewelry, and 478 grams of saffron.

Authorities have confirmed that further investigations are ongoing.