Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 17: Two men were arrested by the customs officials in two separate incidents at Mangaluru International Airport on Sunday, February 16, for attempting to smuggle gold into the country valuing over Rs 58.95 lac.
In the first incident, Muhammed Swalih Chappathodi (22), hailing from Malappuram, Kerala, arrived from Dubai by Spicejet flight SG060. He had concealed gold in paste form in capsules and lodged the same inside his rectum. The recovered gold was purified. A total of 797 gms of gold having purity of 24 karat and valued at Rs 32,35,820 was recovered.
In another case of similar modus operandi, the customs official recovered 655 gms of gold valued at Rs 26.59 lacs from Mohammed Nishad Cheruvanassery (25) who arrived from Dubai by Air India flight IX384.
The customs officials comprising superintendents Sreelakshmi, Gopinath, Savitha Kotian, Ramavtar Meena and inspector Samala Mohan Reddy, were instrumental in the detection and seizure of the gold concealed by the passengers. Both the accused were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Mangaluru.