Coimbatore, Nov 26
Customs officials have seized 816 gms of gold concealed in cavities in handles of five kitchen knives of various sizes from a passenger from Sharjah.
The incident proves how ingenious gold smugglers have become and how they have been improvising and deploying newer ways to conceal the precious metal from the Customs officials.
Aftab (37) from Kannur District in Kerala arrived by Air Arabia flight from Sharjah at about 4.30 a.m today . During the routine baggage scanning, the officials smelt a rat regarding Aftab's bag after the scanner signalled inconsistency in densities of materials in his baggage.
The scanner's signal prompted the officials to cut open the base of the knives as they were much heavier than normal knives. To their surprise, gold in the form of match sticks were concealed very tactically at the base of the knives. Around, 119 'gold' match sticks were seized from the knives.
Later, Aftab was detained.
It may be recalled that on November 6, the Customs officials seized 700 gm of powdered gold from a passenger of the same Air Arabia flight from Sharjah . He had converted gold into a chemical paste and bandaged it around his legs posing as an injured man.
Increasing attempts to smuggle gold to Kerala via Coimbatore have put the officials on high alert.
Customs officials, Mr. Ravi, Mr. Roy Joseph and Mr. J. Ravi were present during the seizure.