Chennai: Customs officials at Chennai airport on Sunday seized 9.8kg gold worth Rs 3.3 crore which was concealed in gaming joysticks. This is the first time such a modus operandi has been uncovered, sources said. Three men have been arrested.
Officials had intelligence reports that gold was likely to be smuggled by Chennai-based passengers arriving by an Air India flight from Sharjah and an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur. Sources said on Sunday morning, customs officers noticed that three male passengers walking in a suspicious manner and hurrying towards the exit.
They were intercepted at the exit of the arrival hall and questioned by Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers of customs. “They were asked if they were carrying gold or any other valuables which needed to be declared,” said a source. “They were evasive, so we took them and their baggage for a detailed examination.”
Customs officials found 47 pieces of joysticks of Sony Playstation in the baggage of passenger Kamar Ali, 38, who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia flight AK 11PS4. The officers found the joysticks unusually heavy, and on close examination, found them to be tampered with.
The officers checked the baggage of the other two passengers — Riyas Khan, 32, and Ibrahim Shah, 52, who had arrived from Sharjah by Air India Flight 968 which had landed half an hour after the AirAsia flight and found they too had joysticks.
21/01/19 Times of India
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Officials had intelligence reports that gold was likely to be smuggled by Chennai-based passengers arriving by an Air India flight from Sharjah and an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur. Sources said on Sunday morning, customs officers noticed that three male passengers walking in a suspicious manner and hurrying towards the exit.
They were intercepted at the exit of the arrival hall and questioned by Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers of customs. “They were asked if they were carrying gold or any other valuables which needed to be declared,” said a source. “They were evasive, so we took them and their baggage for a detailed examination.”
Customs officials found 47 pieces of joysticks of Sony Playstation in the baggage of passenger Kamar Ali, 38, who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia flight AK 11PS4. The officers found the joysticks unusually heavy, and on close examination, found them to be tampered with.
The officers checked the baggage of the other two passengers — Riyas Khan, 32, and Ibrahim Shah, 52, who had arrived from Sharjah by Air India Flight 968 which had landed half an hour after the AirAsia flight and found they too had joysticks.
21/01/19 Times of India
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