PANAJI: India customs officials have seized 3.5 kg of gold in Goa, which was allegedly sought to be smuggled into the country, from four passengers at the Goa International Airport, a senior official said today.
The haul was made last night after the passengers, including two women, arrived from Kuala Lumpur on an AirAsia flight. They were identified as Chivaganam Muruka (46), Paneerselvam Balaji, Prabhakaran Lakshmi (39) and David Arulmani (37).
“It is the maiden seizure from this flight at the airport. The gold was concealed in a hollow pipe above the rear wheels of the baggage trolleys.
“This is a unique modus operandi adopted by the passengers that could be detected only through shrewd questioning by the officers,” Customs Commissioner K Anpakhazan said.
Frisking of the women passengers revealed more gold jewellery as well as gold lumps, the commissioner said.
In total, the customs officials were able to recover 3,546.73 grams of gold, valued at Rs. 95.76 lakh, which has been seized on the reasonable belief that the gold is smuggled and liable for confiscation under section 111 of the Customs Act, 1962, he said.
The accused would be arrested on completion of the investigation, the official said.
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