Mangalore: Customs sleuths on Wednesday arrested two persons in two separate cases of smuggling, and recovered from them, a little over 1.3 kg of gold strips concealed in cardboard packing for toys.

The total value of the gold is estimated at Rs 38.30 lakh.

In the first case, the Customs sleuths opened at the Mangalore International Airport a consignment related to Athiyalparambu Kunhabdulla (39) from Kolavayal in Kasargod. They found gold in the form of sheets concealed in the cardboard covering for toys. A portion of the gold was also found concealed behind the covering for stickers sent in the consignment.

The sleuths arrested Kunhabdulla and recovered 709.6 grams of gold, which was valued at Rs 19.51 lakh. Kunhabdulla landed at the airport on a flight from Dubai on Wednesday at 7.45 a.m.

The sleuths then found a similar packaging in the consignment related to another passenger Eachilingal Kunhamoo Moosa (32) of Kasargod, who also arrived by the same flight.

The sleuths recovered 683 grams of gold from his consignment, valued at Rs 18.79 lakh.