One kg gold seized at airport in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs today seized one kilogram of gold from two passengers at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Odisha capital today, an official said.

This is the fifth time in the last ten days which indicates the the city airport has turned out be a safe haven for gold smugglers.

The Customs officials during search seized two gold bracelets and chains worth around Rs 31,53,620 from two persons arrived here from Bangkok and Dubai in Air India flights – AI-339 and AI-077 – this afternoon, said Assistant Commissioner (Customs) of BPIA, Sashi Bhusan.

Acting on a tip-off, the Customs sleuths intercepted them at the airport and searched the their body and baggage which led to recovery of gold items in form of chains and kadas of foreign origin.

While one passenger is native of Delhi and the other one is a resident of Jagatsinghpur district in the State. Both were detained by the Customs sleuths.

About eight kilogram of gold have been seized by the Customs officials at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in the past two and half months, sources said.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar airport, a safe haven for gold smugglers!

On June 21, the Customs officials had seized a cylindrical gold bar from the passenger which was wrapped with adhesive tapes from his rectum. He had arrived at BPIA from a Bangkok flight.