Customs officials today seized a 11 kilogram 'ashta-dhatu' (made of eight metals) idol of Gautam Buddha from Chhoria canal area under Ram Nagar police station in Bihar's West Champaran district.
Customs Assistant Commissioner Pranesh Gupta said there was intelligence input about smugglers from Nepal trying to sneak into India with a precious idol.
"Accordingly, a team led by Customs superintendent R K Singh was constituted to nab the culprits. A trap was laid near the Chhoria canal, but the smugglers saw our team and fled after throwing away the idol," said Gupta.
"The estimated international price of the 11-kg idol would run into several crores of rupees. We have informed the Archaeological Survey of India about its recovery and their officials will assess its antiquity and value," Gupta added.
Smugglers either sell such idols to rich international collectors or melt them to take out precious metals like gold and silver in it.
