KOCHI: The Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs Department arrested a person carrying nearly one kg of gold at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Nedumbassery, on Monday. The arrested person is a resident of Kasargod, and had arrived from Sharjah by an Air Arabia fight at 3.15 am.
Customs officials said that the accused was intercepted while he was attempting to pass through the green channel at the airport.
“The passenger was intercepted at the exit gate of the arrival hall, on suspicion that he was carrying contraband items. When questioned by Customs officers, he told them that he had no gold with him. Thereafter, on detailed examination of his baggage, crude gold wire with silver coating and rings of gold covered with copper were recovered. It is for the first time that molten gold made into wire and camouflaged with copper has been recovered.
The gold, which was found to be of 24-carat purity, weighing nearly one kg, is valued at `20 lakh. Further investigation is in progress,” Customs officials said in a press release.
The seizure was effected by a team of officers led by Abilash K Sreenivasan, Deputy Commissioner of Customs. The other officials were Superintendent G Ajith Krishnan, K S Bijumon, K X Lalfi Joseph, G Rajesh Kumar, Sareen Joseph and Inspectors Tushar Kanti Biswas, Anjana Menon, Jimmy Mathew, Vishal, and Sunil Kumar.