1 kg gold seized at Dabolim airport, two from Bhatkal held
03:41PM Sat 19 Sep, 2015
VASCO: Goa Customs seized 1,047 gm of gold bars worth 25.20 lakh from a domestic passenger at Dabolim airport on Friday. The passenger and an accomplice – both natives of Bhatkal – were arrested.
Additional Commissioner of Customs G B Santimano informed that the smugglers had arrived from Mumbai by Air India flight AI-984 – an international flight that was on its domestic route to Goa. Domestic passenger Shahid Mohammad Gouse Shaikh had concealed 9 gold bars of 10 tola each in his rectum and tried to pass through the security gate. On suspicion, customs officials intercepted him at the exit gate of the customs arrival hall.
“While being questioned, Sheikh appeared to be nervous and initially tried to feign innocence. He also gave vague replies about his visit to the State. He later confessed to hiding gold bars in his rectum, and after further questioning, confessed that the gold was handed over to him by an international passenger Maliappy Inayatulla,” said Santimano.
He continued, “After boarding the flight at Mumbai, Inayatulla handed the gold bars to Shaikh, who went into the toilet and put the gold bars into his rectum. When his flight arrived in Goa, he tried to act normal, but was caught by vigilant customs officials.”
Both passengers have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is in progress.
Source: Herald
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