On intervening night of Saturday and Sunday morning based onintelligence that gold was likely to be smuggled from Dubaithree passengers ,Mohamed Issak,26,of Trichy , Sadiq Ali,53, and Mohamed Nagoor Hanifa,36, both of  Chennai who  had arrived by flight FZ 8517 were intercepted at exit. On examination oftheir checked in baggage12,11 and 13 mini LCD monitors were found respectively inside their bags. On opening the monitors 36 gold sheets weighing 1.36 Kg valued at Rs. 68.08 lakhs were recovered from monitors and were seized under Customns Act. Mohamed Nagoor Hanifa was arrested.

Four passengers who had arrived from Dubai by Air India flight  IX 1644 Hoosainur Rahman, 22,Mohamed Gani,45, fromIlayangudi, Sivaganga and Abdul karim ,52, and Khader Humayun  25 of Chennai were intercepted at exit. On examination of their check in bags 28  gold sheets   concealed inside mini LCD monitors/screensand 10 gold foils concealed in 5 laptops and 2 gold foilsconcealed in 2 of their  trolley bagswere recovered. Total 28 gold sheets and 12 gold foils weighing 1.62 kg valued at Rs 81.25 lakhs were recovered and seized . Mohamed Gani and Hoosainur Rahman were arrested.

In another case one  Sahubar Aasik, 24, of Ramanathapuram who had arrived from Dubai by flight Indigo 6E-66 was intercepted at exit.  On his personal search 3 plastic pouches of gold paste weighing 190 grams was were recovered from his trousers.  On extraction yielded 165 grams of gold  valued at Rs 8.26 lakhs was recovered and  seized.

Total 3.15 kg valued at Rs 1.57 Crores was recovered and seized under Customs Act, 1962 from 8 passengers.  Three arrested.

Further investigation is under process, according to a press release issued by the Commissioner of Customs Chennai International Airport.

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(Release ID: 1677044) Visitor Counter : 136