Mangaluru: The customs officials seized a total of 1.532 kg of gold, worth Rs 49.17 lakh from three passengers at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on Saturday, March 9.

Sources from the customs informed that all the three passengers arrived at the MIA by Air India Express flight IX814, which came from Dubai. Surprisingly, the smuggled gold was concealed in paste/powder, which was kept in the rectum of the all accused.

While 535.610 grams of gold, estimated worth Rs 17.19 lakh was seized from one passenger, officials seized 505.040 grams of gold worth Rs 16.21 lakh was seized from the second accused. The third passenger smuggled 491.46 grams of gold worth Rs 15.77 lakh, sources informed.