Mangaluru: The Customs officers at the Mangalore International Airport have seized about 2kgs of gold powder valued over Rs 53 lakh from two passengers who arrived from Dubai on Thursday, October 29.
An official media release from the Airport authorities has stated that the gold was concealed in the form of coarse powder in assorted items like tooth pastes, shampoo, face cream, boost powder, Vaseline etc which were carried by both the passengers.
Based on the behaviour and responses to specific questions, the officers zeroed in on to two passengers. As they could not provide satisfactory replies, their accompanied baggage was subjected to detailed examination, which resulted in recovery of gold.
On sustained interrogation, the passengers deposed that they had intentionally concealed the gold to avoid detection by Customs and to evade payment of appropriate Customs duties. Owing to the fact that the passengers were not eligible passengers to import gold and since the subject gold has been smuggled into India in contravention of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, read with the Baggage Rules, 1998, the gold was seized.
The duo was later produced before the Principal Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mangaluru who remanded them to judicial custody for 15 days.
Further investigation is under progress.
