Mangaluru: The officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Regional Unit nabbed an individual of Kerala origin at Mangalore International Airport and seized a huge amount of gold concealed in his mobile phone.

Acting on credible information that an international passenger named Nizar Khadar Mulleria (32) of Mulleria, Kasargod, Kerala, arriving by Spicejet Flight No. SG-60 from Dubai to Mangaluru at around 6.15 pm on September 20, was smuggling gold into the country in connivance with one of the staff of Mangalore International Airport.

On arrival of the aircraft from Dubai, Nizar was identified and intercepted right at the aircraft door and was escorted to the customs arrival area and subjected to thorough checking.

On checking his hand baggage, a brown coloured bag was found inside which a black coloured mobile phone cover (pouch) was recovered.

The officials noticed that the mobile was heavier than normal and upon opening the mobile cover, they found 12 tola bars of gold of foreign origin (intact) and 1 sheet of gold of foreign origin.

The said gold pieces weighed 1515.270 grams in total and were found to be of 24 Karat purity. The current market value is about Rs 47 lakhs. The contraband gold was seized by the officers of DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and Nizar was arrested for attempting to smuggle gold bars into the country.

Further, working on the Intelligence one official working at the Mangalore International Airport was also brought in for interrogation and crucial evidence regarding the abetment of smuggling of contraband gold was recovered.

The search of the official’s residence led to the recovery and seizure of Rs. 25 lakhs in cash which was purportedly received for abetting the illegal activity. The said officer was also arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Further Investigation into the matter is under progress, stated a release from DRI Assistant Director Shreyas KM.