TIRUCHY: The sleuths of Airr Intelligent Unit (AIU) confiscated 632 grams of gold buttons worth `17 lakh from an air passenger at the Tiruchy international airport here on Saturday.
According to customs officials, while they were engaging in routine checking, they grew suspicious on two passengers who arrived from Singapore by Air Indian Express flight.
The officials scanned the passengers baggage and found they had stitched 24 gold buttons each with two jean pants replacing the original ones and painted the buttons.
Later during interrogation, the passengers were identified as A Mohamed Iqbal of Avudaiyarkoil and S Rishdeen of Athanakokkati of Pudukkottai district.
Subsequently the officials seized the gold buttons.