A suspect has been arrested at the Trichy airport in India for attempting smuggle gold worth over Rs 11 million from Sri Lanka.

The airport which saw a spate of gold seizures last year witnessed two more such cases on Saturday after a lull. Totally, 2.63 kg of gold was seized by the airport customs from two youth who arrived from abroad.

In the first incident, a 28-year-old passenger, Samir, who arrived on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight was caught while trying to sneak in gold by hiding it in an iron box.

Air intelligence officials said Samir, who is from Kerala, was carrying gold worth 5.4 million Indian rupees (over LKR 11 million).

A few minutes later gold worth 1.1 million Indian rupees was seized from one Arafat who arrived on an Air India Express flight from Singapore. The 30-year-old passenger, who is also from Kerala, was hiding 382 g gold in five tins.

Trichy airport is a vital point for gold smugglers as they try to bring gold into the city and thereafter move it elsewhere via road or rail. However, the airport has intensified security and checks, resulting in seizure of gold worth INR 16 crore in the last financial year.

At least 15 gold smuggling cases have been recorded at the airport since the beginning of this year. In June alone five such incidents were recorded and most of the passengers who were caught are in the age group of 30-40 years and were working abroad, Times of India reported.