Air Customs officials seized gold worth Rs. 48.27 lakh (USD 66,140) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on January 2. The suspects were intercepted at the terminal of the airport.

Visuals witnessing the smuggled items feature three bundles of gold wrapped in black packets. One gold bit along with two thin sheets and a pouch is also seen resting on the counter. A molten chunk of yellow metal paste is also retrieved amid other illicit items.

Based on a tip-off, a 28-year-old identified as Mohamed Hashan Malique of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Dubai on an Air India flight IX 1644, was intercepted at the exit. On further search, three bundles of gold weighing 880 grams (1.94 lbs) were retrieved from his rectum. After extraction, they bore one gold ingot of 772 grams (1.7 lbs) of 24K purity worth Rs. 39.83 lakh (USD 54,581). Thereafter, the gold was confiscated, and the passenger got arrested.

In another case, a 31-year-old named Mohamed Asarudeen of Nagapattinam who arrived from the same flight was detained at the exit. On further examination, a pouch containing gold in the form of paste weighing 82 grams (0.18 lbs) was recovered from his underwear.

After extraction, it yielded 72 grams (0.15 lbs) of 24K purity gold. One cut bit weighing 57 grams (0.12 lbs), and two gold plates weighing 36 grams ((0.079 lbs) were also found concealed in his hand baggage. About 165 grams (0.36 lbs) of gold valued at Rs. 8.44 lakh (USD 11,565) were seized.

A total of 937 grams (2.06 lbs) of gold worth Rs. 48.27 lakh (USD 66,140) were seized by the Chennai Air Customs in these two cases. An investigation into the matter is underway.