Newskarnataka – Mangalore

Mangalore: The officers of customs at Mangalore International Airport have once again thwarted  an attempt to smuggle gold, and have arrested a passenger.

The officials seized gold pieces and granules, totally weighing 800.600 grams  and valued at Rs 24,09,806 concealed in four ‘Lux’ brand bathing soaps and one ‘American Garden’ brand chocolate syrup bottle.

The gold seized by the passenger has been identified as 30-year-old Abdul Gafoor, , who is a resident of Manjeshwar, Kasaragod.

He arrived at Mangalore International Airport on Wednesday March 19 at around 7.30 am by an Air India Express flight IX814 from Dubai.

The passenger was arrested later and produced before the magistrate. Further investigation is under progress.

Operations were conducted under the supervision of Krishna Kumar Prasad, assistant commissioner of customs, Mangalore International Airport and were led by B Prabhakara Poojary, superintendent along with superintendents Lionel Fernandes, Sendhil Murugan, B A Kariappa, H G Yogesh and inspectors G Kumaraswamy, Preeti Suma, S Ranjan Behera and Ankit Kumar and Hawaldar Gulabi.

Further, the Commissioner of Customs, Mangalore, D Purushotham expressed his deep concern regarding the increasing trends in smuggling and directed the officers to intensify the vigilance and surveillance and crack the attempts made by the unscrupulous elements who are indulging in these activities.