Gold worth Rs. 74 lakh seized

Bengaluru: In separate cases, four passengers including two from Mysuru were allegedly caught smuggling gold into the Kempegowda International  Airport (KIA) here last week and the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Bengaluru Customs have seized 1,875.75 grams (1.87 kg) of gold worth Rs. 74.46 lakh  from them.

On Nov. 1, AIU officials detained two men from Mysuru, who flew into Bengaluru from Bangkok via Kolkata by flight number 6E-076. The officials, who examined baggage found six thin mercury-coated gold rods and four small semi-circular mercury-coated gold rings concealed in plastic boxes. 

The gold weighed 751.38 grams and was worth about Rs. 29.99 lakh.

The following day (Nov. 2), the officials intercepted two residents of Thane, Maharashtra, who arrived at the KIA from Muscat via Hyderabad by flight number AI 978. When their body was scanned, the two passengers were found to have concealed gold paste weighing 1,124.37 grams (1.124 kg) worth about Rs. 44.47 lakh in their rectum. When questioned, they claimed that they had picked up the gold left behind in the toilet by someone else during the international leg of the flight. More details awaited.