Gold Dipped Lungis worth Rs. 2 crore seized by Customs Officials in Trivandrum Airport

Customs officials at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport intercepted the attempts of 2 smugglers to smuggle gold worth around Rs. 2 crore into the country on Saturday.

In one case, a passenger arriving from Dubai was discovered in possession of ten lungis that had been dipped in a gold solution and subsequently dried.

The total weight of these gold-dipped lungis was 4.3 kg. According to customs sources, the specific weight of the gold utilised can only be determined after the extraction procedure, and it is expected that approximately one kilogram of gold was used in the process.

Meanwhile, another passenger was caught for attempting to smuggle 2,201.6 grams of gold hidden inside a steel flask placed in his hand luggage.

According to a source, the refined weight of the gold after extraction was 1,959.85 grams, with a market value of Rs. 1,19,35,487.

Kaithaparambil Shuhaib, the arrested person, had arrived on an Emirates flight from Dubai. His fear came from actionable intelligence provided by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The accused has been held in judicial custody, indicating the severity of the charges against him. This incident highlights the continuous difficulty that authorities confront in combating gold smuggling, with offenders turning to brilliant and covert methods to evade detection.

The collaboration between Customs officials and intelligence agencies, as demonstrated in this case, plays a pivotal role in intercepting such illicit activities and ensuring that those involved are held accountable under the legal system.

The seized gold, with an estimated value of Rs. 2 crore, highlights the significant financial stakes involved in these smuggling operations and emphasises the necessity for heightened vigilance at international entry points.

The Kerala High Court has directed the Customs Department to issue orders following the seizure of cash and gold jewellery weighing 389 grams at Cochin Airport.

According to a Single Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, having considered the submissions, the first responder shall evaluate the application and give required orders in line with the legislation as soon as possible, preferably within two months. With the aforementioned direction, the current writ petition is dismissed.