Gold worth Rs 39 lakh seized at airport

A passenger has been arrested at Mangaluru International Airport here for trying to smuggle gold worth Rs 39 lakh from Dubai, Revenue intelligence officials said today.
The passenger, who has been identified as Ahamed Nabeel Gaffoor (21), a resident of Kasaragod in Kerala, was arrested on arrival from Dubai by SpiceJet flight SG-60 atsix pmyesterday, a DRI release here said.
Acting on credible intelligence, he was intercepted right at the aircraft door and was escorted to customs arrival area and subjected to thorough checking, it said.
It was revealed that he was carrying a mobile-like item in his front trouser pocket.

The mobile pouch was found to be heavier than usual and it was sealed from all sides. On interrogation, Gaffoor admitted that he had concealed 11 gold tola bars of foreign origin inside the pouch, the release said.
DRI sleuths found seven tola bars of gold of foreign origin (intact) and four tola bars of gold of foreign origin cut into eight pieces (total 15 pieces) concealed inside the pouch using black and silver adhesive tape to avoid detection.
The gold pieces were found to be of 24 carat purity and their current market value was placed at around Rs 39 lakh, it said.

The contraband gold was later seized by DRI under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.