Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 29: The officers of customs at Mangalore International Airport on Wednesday October 28 seized about 2 kg of gold powder valued over Rs 53 lac from two passengers who arrived from Dubai.

The gold was ingeniously hidden in the form of powder in shampoo, toothpastes, Boost, Tang powder and creams. The identities of the accused passengers have not been revealed yet.

Based on the behaviour and responses to specific questions, the officers zeroed in on two passengers, who had arrived from Dubai with assorted consumer items. As the passengers could not provide satisfactory replies, their baggages were subjected to detailed examination, which resulted in the recovery of gold in the form of coarse powder, ingeniously concealed in assorted items like toothpastes, shampoo, face cream, Boost powder, Vaseline etc, which were carried by both the passengers.

On sustained interrogation, the passengers deposed that they had intentionally concealed the gold to avoid detection by customs and to evade payment of appropriate customs duties. Owing to the fact that the passengers were not eligible passengers to import gold and since the gold has been smuggled into India in contravention of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, read with the Baggage Rules, 1998, the passengers were arrested. The 2 kg of gold, valued at over Rs 53 lac was seized.

The passengers were later produced before the principal civil judge (senior division) and chief judicial magistrate, Mangaluru, who remanded them in judicial custody today for 15 days.

Further investigation is under progress.