Air Customs officials seized gold worth Rs. 2.47 crore (USD 3,36,026) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on December 28.

The suspects were intercepted at the terminal of the airport.

Visuals witnessing the smuggled items feature 27 gold bars crammed inside two white packets. Four gold chains and ear studs are also retrieved from those packages. 10 additional bundles wrapped with black adhesive tape and one in white also get recovered. Five molten chunks of metal can also be seen resting on the counter with other illicit assets.

According to the officials, the movement of passengers was monitored in the transit area. On noticing an individual entering the transit-area washroom after another passenger, officials sprung into action and frisked the one who had entered second. They recovered two packets from his pant pockets which contained 27 gold bars of 24K purity. They weighed around 3.148 kg (6.49 lbs) and were valued at Rs. 1.63 crore (USD 2,22,083). Besides this, gold chains and ear studs weighing 48 grams (0.106 lbs) valued at Rs. 2.28 lakh (USD 3,106) were also obtained.

The 29-year-old who went to collect the white packets was identified as M Nizhalravi. On being interrogated in the immigration area, he unveiled the identification of Niyamthullah Hadi, as the one who placed the gold bars in the washroom.

Four more passengers arrived from Dubai via Emirates flight EK544 and one who landed via Indigo 6E 8245 was also intercepted. 11 bundles of gold paste weighing 1.9 kg (4.189 lbs) were retrieved from his rectum. On extraction, it yielded 1.57 kg (3.461 lbs) gold valued at Rs. 81.35 lakhs (USD 1,10,837). The passenger was identified as Abdul Nasar and was apprehended.