Chennai, Oct 2 (BPNS)
The Customs and Central Excise is on a high alert in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi, and Coimbatore airports after the smuggling of gold increases to these airports increased in the state.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) arrested a part-time worker at Chennai airport on Saturday with 1.9 kg of gold worth 83.86 lakh. The contract worker belonged to a private agency and was in charge of the restroom. CISF found that he was taking out 12 gold bits hidden in the cleaning mop and some inside the sole of his shoes.
It may be noted that Chennai air customs have arrested two passengers a couple of days ago with 483 grams of gold and 50 cartons of cigarettes. The men had arrived from Dubai and were apprehended.
Customs officials told BPNS that in Tiruchy, Coimbatore, and Madurai airports also there were seizures of gold in the past couple of days with most of the gold coming from the middle eastern countries.
A senior official while speaking to BPNS said, “ The culture of carriers bringing in gold through international airports in Tamil Nadu seemed to have increased and the department has got some inputs on an organized network behind this. Customs have taken all the precautions to prevent smuggling of gold. We have directed the companies that supply contract staff to make sure that none of their staff are indulging in aiding smugglers at the airports.”
