Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Feb 11: Mangaluru Customs seized 633 grams of gold worth Rs 25,57,320 at the Mangaluru International Airport, intercepted by the customs officials, said Joannes George joint commissioner, Mangaluru Customs.
Addressing media here on Tuesday, February 11, Joannes George said, "The accused has been identified as Saifuddin Thekkil Pazhevalappil resident of Kasargod who arrived from Dubai to Mangaluru early morning on February 11 in an Air India flight. He concealed the gold in his rectum. We got suspicious by his movement and our officials were conducting regular checks. He was produced at the court and was reprimanded in judicial custody up to February 25.
“In another case, 120 cartons of illegal cigarettes were confiscated by the police at Mangaluru Junction railway station and handed over to the customs. He was travelling from Kerala to Mangaluru from and was heading to Mumbai, but the police intercepted the accused at Mangaluru Junction railway station. Cigarettes namely Gudang Garam and Dunhill were confiscated. No arrest was made in this case.
“Assistant commissioner Rajesh Poojari, superintendent Pradeep Kumar, inspector Rohidas were part of seizing the smuggling of cigarettes while in the smuggling of gold, deputy commissioner Raghavendra, superintendent Sinmaya Pradhan and Srinath were part of the operation.
"Airport customs in Mangaluru booked 52 cases of seizing a total of 17.65 Kg of gold, foiling novel methods of smuggling the yellow metal during the current financial year. The Mangaluru International Airport is considered to be one of the major entry points for smuggled gold into the country due to its geographical proximity to certain areas in nearby districts which are notorious for its gold smuggling rackets operating out of the said districts. Due to the tight vigil at the Mangalore International Airport, the officers were able to check the activities of smugglers who had come out with modus operandi to bring in gold mainly from the UAE and Saudi Arabia."
"During the period from April 2019 to January 2020, the airport customs at Mangaluru have seized yellow metal worth Rs 6.38 crore from a total of 52 smuggling cases registered. The tightened anti-smuggling activities of the department have resulted in the seizure of 17.65 kg of gold and arrested 10 offenders. Besides this, illicitly possessed foreign currency valued at Rs 33.48 lac was also seized from seven passengers during the said period," he added.
"Total of 3529 flights and 5,37,507 passengers were cleared and duty of Rs 3.59 crore was collected including fine and penalty collected from the offenders. The customs also disposed of confiscated gold weighing 23.76 kgs which fetched Rs 9.54 crore in the current fiscal year till January 2020," George said.
"The highlights of a string of gold seizure at the Mangaluru International Airport are the unusual methods opted by the offenders to hide gold which include hiding under a wig and inside the rectum as oval-shaped capsules. Other methods of concealment included converting gold into a paste and hiding it under the sole and within specially stitched pockets in pants, underwear and inside kneecaps. The smugglers have also attempted to get away with the gold by hiding inside the toys, umbrellas, speakers, talcum powders, as metal supporting frame of suitcases and even as strips within measuring tape," he maintained.
"The commissioner of customs Basavaraj Nalegave sensitized the customs officers at Mangaluru International Airport on various modus operandi adopted by the smugglers' carriers directing the officers to step up the vigil to take on the challenges posed by smugglers who are constantly evolving their tactics to hide gold and other contraband using unsuspecting objects," the joint commissioner asserted.