KOCHI:The Air Intelligence Unit, Air Customs, Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, on Monday seized around 7.2 kg of gold, valued approximately at `2 crore in the open market, from two air passengers who arrived from Dubai via Riyadh.
The Officers of Air Intelligence Unit intercepted two passengers aged 31 years, residents of Kozhikode and Kannur, who arrived in a Saudi Airways (SV 774) flight at about 10 am while they were trying to escape through the Green Channel.
They were intercepted at the exit gate of the Arrival Hall, on suspicion that they were carrying some contraband goods.
A detailed search of their baggage resulted in the recovery of 62 pieces of gold bars totally weighing approximately 7.2 kg.
Out of the 62 gold bars, 32 were concealed inside the coil of an AC Converter and remaining 30 were concealed inside the battery of a UPS.
The gold bars were wrapped tightly with carbon paper and adhesive cello tapes.
The seizure was made by a team of officers led by Assistant Commissioner of Customs Sanjay Bangartale, K P Sivadas, and Customs Superintendent M Shairaj, M R Ramachandran, Koshy Alex, K K Somasundaran, N G Jaison, K Shanojkumar, R Shyu,Vincent, Philip Joseph, Inspector O F Jose and Head Havildars K Janardhanan and K S Joseph.