Media Release

Mangaluru, Nov 30: During November, the customs officers at Mangaluru International Airport seized gold valued over about Rs 64 lac in 6 cases of smuggling. The smugglers used diverse modus operandi to bring in the contraband.

In a case involving seizure of 803 grams of gold, gold powder was mixed with a chemical to form a gum and filled into the hollows of the sandals worn by him.

In another case, a passenger had hidden four gold biscuits weighing 466.4 grams, under the arc of his feet, which were covered with foot bands and had then worn socks over it. On the same day, another passenger intercepted was found to be in possession of 3 cut pieces of gold biscuit weighing 184.29 grams in the inner pocket of his trousers.

The next day another case was detected where a passenger had concealed 4 gold biscuits weighing 466.5 grams in his rectum. In two other cases, two passengers had worn gold khadas, weighing 221 grams, which were coated with rhodium to make it appear like steel.

The total weight of gold seized during the month is 2.141 kg and valued at Rs 64.38 lac. Among the six passengers intercepted for smuggling gold, three hailed from Kasargod, two from Bhatkal and one from Dakshina Kannada, and all had arrived from Dubai. One passenger was arrested and investigation is in progress in all the cases.

The ingenious and varied modus operandi adopted by the passengers, while attempting to smuggle gold through Mangaluru International Airport have been thwarted by the vigilant officers at the airport.