Mangaluru: Customs officials at the Mangaluru International Airport intercepted two persons arriving from Sharjah for conceiling gold in the form of paste in their underwear.

The accused are identified as Faizal Thotty Melparamba (37) and Mohammad Shuhaib Mugu (31), both from Kasargod. They had arrived from Sharjah vis Air India flight IX 1384 on January 14.

Gold in paste form weighing 2.154 kgs of 24k purity, estimated to be worth Rs 1.09 crore, was seized from the duo.

The customs team lead by Praveen Kandi IRS, Deputy Commissioner, and officers Srikanth K, Superintendent, Subhendu Ranjan Behera, Superintendent, Naveen Kumar, Superintendent and others were lauded by Commissioner of Customs, Imamuddin Ahmed, IRS and Joint Commissioner Joannes George, IRS for their efforts in preventing smuggling activities.