JAIPUR: The customs department seized over 1 kg of gold worth Rs 56.16 lakh from a passenger who landed from Sharjah at Jaipur international airport on Tuesday. The passenger, who was arrested, had hidden the gold in his undergarments as well as cavities made in the jeans and officials claimed that he was the first person to deboard the aircraft under the impression that he might go undetected.
Officials also claimed that the carriers are switching to smuggling the gold by hiding it in undergarments as opposed to the previous method of hiding it in electronic components.
“On the basis of suspicion, customs officers intercepted one passenger, who arrived from Sharjah on Tuesday morning. During personal search of the passenger, yellowish granular paste packed in transparent polyethylene pouches was found concealed in his jeans pant and underwear. A total 1133.500 grams gold of 99.50% purity, valued at Rs 56.16 lakh was extracted from the paste and was seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962. The passenger was arrested. Further investigation is going on,” said an official statement of the customs department.
