The Air Intelligence Unit of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport foiled a gold smuggling attempt and seized ornaments worth Rs. 46.25 lakh (Indian rupees) from three travellers.
The accused were identified as Yogeswar Sellathamby, Susikala Yogeswaran and Ramakkal Ramasamy, all hailing from Sri Lanka, who arrived in India on SriLankan flight UL 161 around 8.45 am (02).
Officials said a search was launched based on a tip-off. “The passengers were intercepted at the exit gate while going out of the baggage hall after Customs clearance. The ornaments were found in a detailed search,” they said. The ornaments - eight bangles, four chains and 10 pendants - weighed 1.511 kg. “They could not produce any document for the import of the gold. The ornaments were assayed and certified to be gold having purity of 24 carat,” officials said.
The officers involved in the seizure were deputy commissioners Vagish Kumar Singh and Nikitha Chandran, superintendents Roy Jose, Pradeep Kumar and Sulekha R and air intelligence officers Babu S, K V Naser and Gaurav Vats.
-NIE
-Agencies
