Getting innovative with 'time': Gold hidden in watch seized at Mangalore Airport
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 19: After belt, hooks and wafer tin, it was now the turn of wrist watch to become a carrier of smuggled gold at Mangalore International Airport.
The officers of customs at Mangalore International Airport on Wednesday February 19 seized one kg gold bar and one circular gold piece coated with silver paint totally weighing 1116.400 gms valued at Rs 34,58,512.
The gold was brought by way of mis-declaration and concealment inside a watch and further concealed in a bag by a passenger identified as Muhammed Musthafa Eriyapadi Pallindakukkal, a resident of Kasaragod.
Musthafa arrived at Mangalore International Airport on Wednesday at around 7.30 am by Air India Express flight IX 814 from Dubai. The passenger was arrested and produced before the magistrate.
This was the first time that the officers detected a case wherein gold was concealed in a watch. The watch was found to be in working condition and the gold was moulded to fit perfectly under the dial to make it appear like a normal watch.