300 grams of gold worth Rs 49.23 lakh seized at Ahmedabad Airport

Ahmedabad, Aug 26 (IANS) Ahmedabad Customs officials seized nearly 300 grams of concealed gold jewellery worth Rs 49.23 lakh from passengers arriving on three international flights at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, following passenger profiling by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU).

According to Customs, three separate cases were detected involving passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Kuwait.

The seizures together amounted to 299.490 grams of gold jewellery, comprising 240.090 grams of 24-carat gold and 59.400 grams of 22-carat gold, with a combined market value of Rs 49,23,602.

In the first case, a woman arriving from Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways flight EY-246 was intercepted by AIU officers. Examination revealed two concealed gold chains weighing 100.060 grams and made of 24-carat gold.

The jewellery was valued at Rs 16,72,003 and was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

In the second case, a couple arriving from Sharjah on Air Arabia flight G9-418 was intercepted. Officers found four gold bangles and two gold chains weighing 140.030 grams in total.

The jewellery was of 24-carat purity and had a market value of Rs 23,41,739. It was seized under the Customs Act.

In the third case, a woman arriving from Kuwait on Kuwait Airways flight KU-347 was intercepted.

She was found carrying one gold necklace, two earrings, one ring and a chain with a pendant, weighing 59.400 grams. The jewellery was of 22-carat purity and was valued at Rs 9,09,860.

Customs said the interceptions were carried out based on passenger profiling, with officers examining the passengers after they arrived at the airport.

The seizures come two days after Ahmedabad Customs intercepted a woman arriving from Sharjah with a 499.540-gram, 24-carat gold chain allegedly concealed inside her high-neck sweater. That seizure was also made following passenger profiling by the AIU.

Further investigation into the latest cases is under way.

–IANS

mys/uk