1.7 kg gold, two kg of saffron seized at Kochi airport

Customs sleuths at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) here have seized 1.7 kg of gold valued at Rs 51.23 lakh in separate cases last week, a top official said here today.

They also seized two kg of saffron valued at Rs seven lakh and 20 cigarette cartons valued at Rs 30,000 during the period from May 2 to May 6 in 11 separate cases, Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said.

This includes seizure of 100 grams crude gold chain valued at Rs 3.15 lakh from a passenger who arrived from Doha and two gold bars weighing 233.2 grams and valued at Rs 7.42 lakh from the checked-in baggage of a passenger from Jeddah.

In two other cases, 259 grams of crude gold chains totally valued at Rs 8.17 lakh were seized from two passengers who arrived from Dubai, Kumar said.

The seizure of one crude gold chain totally weighing 233 grams and totally valued at Rs 7.42 lakh and saffron totally weighing two kg and valued at Rs seven lakh was effected from a native of Kasaragod who had arrived from Mumbai as a domestic passenger in an international flight.

In another case, 306.53 grams of crude gold chain totally valued at Rs 9.86 lakh were seized from a native of Kottayam, who had arrived from Dubai on May 5, he said.

The Intelligence officers also seized gold in various forms as crude gold chains, crude gold rod and gold cut pieces totally weighing 473 grams and totally valued at Rs 15.2 lakh in four separate cases.

The seizure was effected from natives of Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur on May 5, Kumar said.

Twenty cartons of cigarettes totally valued at Rs 30,000 were seized by intelligence officers from a Malappuram native who arrived from Dubai.

The seizures have been made under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, Kumar said.