NewsKarnataka-Mangalore
Mangalore: Yet another case of gold smuggling has come to light. The gold smugglers are getting inventive day by day, creating a tuff task for customs officials.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the customs officials in a joint operation seized gold worth Rs 3, 84,744 on Wednesday November 13.
In the past the smugglers have tried to smuggle gold in clothes, drying rack, tubes etc but this time a passenger tried to smuggle a gold bar and gold sovereign coin in his sandals.
The accused has been identified as Manazir Hassan, a resident of Bhatkal from Uttara Kannada district. He has been charged of trying to smuggle the gold bar weighing 116.64 grams and a old gold sovereign coin weighing 8 grams.
Manazir Hassan had boarded Air India Express flight IX 814 and arrived at Mangalore international airport at around 8.15am from Dubai.
Sources reveal that Manazir showed tantrums and argued with the officials during the checking procedure, although when the officials put his sandals through the x-ray scanner, they detected the gold. Manazir had cautiously slit open a small hole in the inner part of the strap of the sandal that he wore on the right feet and secretly stuffed the gold bar and coin inside it.
Normally footwear (sandals) of passengers except for shoes and sneakers are not examined, this way it makes it easy for the smugglers but the prompt action of the officials saved the day.
The officials have arrested Manazir and are investigating further