Media Release
Mangaluru, Mar 2: The officers of customs at Mangalore International Airport seized about 5.5 kg of contraband gold valued over Rs 1.57 crore during the last month.
The smuggled contraband was found concealed in items like Tiger Balm jars, oats tins, mobile phone cases, power banks, solar power inverter, iron box etc. The detections this month were in contrast to the usual modes of concealment in items like mixer, speaker, oven etc.
It is also interesting to know that the smugglers have also attempted to smuggle the contraband by concealing on the person.The officers seized some gold chains, bangles and anklets in crude form concealed on persons.
It has been the endeavor of the customs officers to detect any mode of concealment so as to recover the concealed contraband. Due to several detections of contraband concealed in conventional items, the smugglers are now adopting new modus operandi to bring in contraband.
In addition to gold, 232 cartons of foreign made cigarettes valued over Rs 4 lac were also seized last month.
Last year 46.72 kg of gold seized and confiscated by the customs has been sold by the authorized banks and an amount of Rs 14.25 crore has been credited to government exchequer.