Air Customs officials seized gold worth Rs. 43.92 lakhs (USD 60,077) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on January 14. The suspects were intercepted at the terminal of the airport.

Visuals witnessing the smuggled items feature two black bundles crammed with gold inside it. Four additional blue packets full of these precious metals are also retrieved. Two molten chunks of gold paste are also seized with other illicit assets.

A 32-year-old identified as Thiruvedathu Gani and a 36-year-old named Mohamed Niyas, who arrived from Dubai FlyDubai FZ-8517 were intercepted at the exit based on suspicion of carrying gold. On further examination, four bundles of gold paste weighing 655 grams (1.4 lbs) were recovered from Gani. On extraction, it yielded 565 grams (1.2 lbs) of gold worth Rs. 28.75 lakhs (USD 39,326). He was apprehended on the spot.

Two gold paste bundles weighing 340 grams (0.74 lbs) were retrieved from Niyas. On extraction, it yielded 298 grams (0.65 lbs) of gold valued at Rs. 15.17 lakhs (USD 20,750). Total 863 grams (1.9 lbs) of 24K purity gold worth Rs. 43.92 lakhs (USD 60,077) were seized. An investigation into the matter is underway.