Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 2: The officers of customs at Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday October 1 seized about 1.4 kg of gold bars worth over Rs 36 lac from a passenger who arrived from Dubai.
The accused passenger, identified as Sulaiman Mohammed (44), a resident of Kasargod, has been arrested.
On suspicion, the officers enquired from a frequent flyer as to whether he possessed any dutiable items to be declared to the customs. As the passenger could not provide any satisfactory reply and was incoherent while responding to the officers, his baggage was subjected to detailed examination.
The examination resulted in the detection of one unusually heavy voltage converter. On thorough examination, the officers detected three rectangular metallic bars coated with silver paint, which were ingeniously concealed in coil portion of the volatage converter. The gold assayer has confirmed the bars as pure gold of 24 carat, stated a press note from the Mangaluru customs.
On interrogation, the passengers deposed that he had intentionally concealed the gold bars to avoid detection by customs and to evade payment of approapriate duties. The gold bars were seized and the passenger was arrested. He was then produced before the principal civil judge and the chief judicial magistrate and remanded in judicial custory for 14 days.
Further investigations are on.