Based on intelligence, a sales executive of the Airhub shop, located in the transit/departure area of Anna International Airport, was intercepted by Chennai Air Intelligence Unit officers. During a personal search, three bundles containing gold in paste form were found concealed in his rectum which had been received from the transit passenger, who is a Sri Lankan national.

Further enquiry revealed that smugglers based in Sri Lanka had rented the Airhub shop in International Departure of Anna International Airport through one Shri. Sabir Ali who is an youtuber by entering into contract with M/s. Vidvedaa PRG. The smuggling syndicate recruited a total of eight persons to receive gold in paste form at the shop or in the toilets located in the departure area from transit passengers. These individuals would then conceal the gold in their rectums and smuggle it out of the airport. Using this modus operandi, they successfully smuggled 267 kilograms of gold worth Rupees 167 Crores in the past in a span of two months. 

The transit passenger, who handed over the gold, along with the shop owner and other staffs of the shop, were arrested, remanded and sent to judicial custody.

Further investigation is under process.

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