smuggling, security officials have recovered gold of over 2 kgs from two airline passengers.
In the first instance, officers from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Tiruchirappalli airport in Tamil Nadu seized 977 grams of 24K gold valued at Rs 70.58 lakh from a passenger who had come from Dubai.
Authorities reported that the gold was hidden in three packets with 1081 grams of paste-like material inside the passenger's rectum. The passenger was traveling from Dubai to Trichy on the Air India Express. They have been detained, and additional investigation is currently in progress.
In another incident, customs officers at Chennai airport found 1.25 kg of gold, which is valued at Rs 85 lakh, in a lavatory at the arrival lounge of the international terminal.
The housekeeping staff noticed a package in a trash can in the restroom and informed the CISF personnel. The parcel was scanned to detect any explosive substance. CISF personnel discovered gold hidden inside and then gave it to customs officials for additional investigation. The CCTV footage showed a passenger, who had his face covered, placing the parcel in the dustbin.
Earlier, AIU officials at Tiruchirappalli airport seized 410 grams of gold worth Rs 26.62 lakh from a passenger arriving from Singapore in a previous incident in March. Officials stated that the seized gold comprised 330 grams of 24K gold extracted from a paste-like material and 80 grams of 22K gold concealed inside the vest of a passenger who was traveling from Singapore to Trichy.
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