Air Customs officials seized gold worth Rs. 2.17 crores (USD 2,97,136) from southern India's Chennai International Airport on January 31. The suspects were intercepted at the terminal of the airport.

Visuals witnessing the incident feature an enormous amount of gold paste capsules wrapped in a polythene/rubber cover. The officials open the concealed items and accumulate them on a plate. Several other bundles are crammed with gold and are covered with black adhesive tape. Molten chunks of metal, chains, gold bits, and rings can also be seen amid other illicit items present on the counter.

Based on the information, eight passengers who arrived from Dubai and Sharjah through Emirates Flight EK542 and Air Arabia Flight G9471 on January 22, were intercepted by Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers on suspicion of carrying gold. The accused, Ganakavalli, Nishanthi, Kala Peradeep Kumar, Jayaraj, Jegatheesh, Ghabar Khan, Mohammed Hikkam, and Thasleem Fathima, hailed from different districts of Tamil Nadu.

The passengers admitted to concealing gold paste in their stomach and the rectum. They further revealed that they also swallowed gold paste capsules before the departure. The people voluntarily requested in writing for taking suitable action under the Customs Act to recover the smuggled items.

The passengers were admitted to Stanley Government hospital in the city to recover the capsules under medical supervision. They were fed a heavy diet to facilitate ejection. The process took eight days to complete through a natural process.

Each capsule concealed in the stomach was 1.1-1.7 cm in diameter and weighed between 15-24 grams (0.03-0.05 lbs). Total 161 gold weighing 2.88 kg (6.3 lbs) worth Rs. 1.28 crores (USD 1,75,273) were recovered from the eight passengers.

Further, eight bundles containing 61 capsules weighing 1.18 kg (2.6 lbs) gold were valued at Rs. 51.36 lakh (USD 70,328). Around three gold chains, eight gold bits, eight rings, two bundles of gold paste was worth Rs. 30.64 lakh (USD 41,967). These items were retrieved from their hang bags and pant pockets. A total of 4.15 kg (9.14 lbs) of gold was around Rs. 2.17 crores (USD 2,97,136).

Seven passengers were arrested after the examination, and further investigation into the matter is underway.