ALUVA: A detailed search resulted in the recovery of 56 numbers of 10 tola gold bars weighing approximately 6.5 kilograms and 1 kilogram of gold articles in the form of beads chain, Tiger Balm cap, watch straps, key chains, ring and several other items.
“The tola bars were concealed very cunningly in between the core and outer cover of 4 electrical transformers. They were also found wrapped in carbon paper and cello adhesive tapes,” officials said.
Other items were also ingeniously masked as fixtures in hand bags, and imitation watches. The seizure was effected by a team led by Assistant Commissioner of Customs Sanjay Bangartale.
Customs officials said the counts of gold smuggling were a notch higher in 2014 as compared to the previous year. “Seizures like this are possible mainly due to the resourcefulness of airport staff,” a custom official said.
“We cannot rely on machines all the time, as speed is of the essence in such operations. Profiling and experience are the main reasons behind all such arrests. In this case, the articles were hidden very effectively. It was the profile of the person that assisted us effecting the seizure,” the official said.