Bengaluru: Officials of the Customs Air Intelligence Unit at Kempegowda International airport busted a gold smuggling racket and arrested two persons, including a ground handling staff who was trying to smuggle four kilograms of gold bars.

The arrested are Lateef, a native of Kerala who landed at the KIA by Emirates Airways Flight EK-568 and Ajesh, a member of the ground handling staff.

It is said that Lateef handed over a bag carrying the gold bars to Ajesh before undergoing a body scan as he walked through the Aero-Bridge.

However, the Custom sleuths asked Ajesh to walk through the Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) to find gold bars in the bag.

Earlier ground handling staff were exempted from walking through Door Frame Metal Detectors, but now it is mandatory for everyone to walk through the DFMD.

Three-year-old employee of the KIA is now under scanner as the police are investigating into his role in other smuggling cases.

 The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate in a Special Court for Economic Offences and remanded in judicial custody until January 27.