Gold biscuits seized from two Kasargod natives at Kochi airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, July 13, 2013: The officials of Air Intelligence Unit of Air Customs at the Cochin international Airport have recovered three kilograms of gold in the form of biscuits, being smuggled into the country from Dubai by two natives of Kasargod district. Both passengers arrived from Dubai on Emirates flights on Thursday, July 11.

In one incident, the Customs personnel intercepted Mankeri Saidu Mohammed Jamseer who reached Kochi by Emirates flight and went out of the Customs hall with his hand baggage, leaving behind the checked-in baggage as if he mislaid it. He re-entered the hall for picking up the bag. The Intelligence officer kept surveillance over his suspicious movements. While he was moving through the green channel, the Customs official intercepted him at the exit, believing that contraband goods were hidden in the bag. On inspection, the officials seized gold bars weighing one kg from his bag valued at about Rs 26,09,415. The officers also recovered US Dollar currency of 4,5000.

In another operation, the officers seized gold bars concealed in the socks of a passenger. The officials seized gold bars weighing 2 kg from Koppal Abbas Abdul Ravof, who arrived in Kochi by Emirates flight EK 530 that landed at 8.30  am. He was also stopped by the Air Customs officials at the exit  point. The personal inspection of Ravof revealed something heavy hidden in his socks. When the pair of socks was removed, another ankle sock in which gold bars wrapped in layers of carbon papers was found. The approximate value of the seized gold was put at Rs 55,98, 000.