Bengaluru
Customs detected an alleged gold-smuggling attempt involving 1.6 kg of gold
concealed beneath passengers’ footwear, along with refurbished electronic goods
valued as part of a total seizure estimated at ₹2.6 crore.
·
Arrest:
Customs officials arrested four passengers—three women and one man—arriving
from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA),
Bengaluru, on Saturday.
·
Gold
seized: Officials recovered 28
gold bars weighing 1.6 kg, with the total value
of all seized goods estimated at ₹2.6
crore.
·
Concealment
method: The passengers allegedly wrapped the gold
bars in black tape, attached them to the soles of their feet and concealed them
beneath their footwear. Some gold bars were also reportedly found on their
trolleys.
·
Other
seized goods: Customs officials also seized 13
refurbished mobile phones and eight refurbished laptops.
·
Passenger
details: All four accused were residents of Vyasarpadi in north Chennai.
·
Detection: The
passengers were intercepted while leaving Terminal 2 based on passenger
profiling and intelligence inputs.
·
Legal
action: All four were arrested under the Customs
Act, 1962.
·
Further
investigation: Two other men reportedly travelled with
the group but were not booked because no gold was found in their luggage.
Customs officials are continuing the investigation.
[ABS News Service/16.10.2026]
Four
passengers arriving from Dubai were arrested by customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Saturday for
allegedly attempting to smuggle gold biscuits concealed around their feet and
hidden beneath their footwear.
The
group, comprising three women and a man from Chennai, allegedly concealed 28
gold bars by wrapping them in black tape and attaching them to the soles of
their feet. They were intercepted by customs officials as they were leaving
Terminal 2.
Officials
also seized 13 refurbished mobile phones and eight refurbished laptops. The 28
gold bars weighed 1.6 kg, and the total value of the seized goods was estimated
at Rs 2.6 crore.
All
four passengers were residents of Vyasarpadi in north
Chennai. They had allegedly taped the gold bars to the soles of their feet
before covering them with footwear. Customs officials identified them based on
profiling and intelligence inputs.
The
accused were identified as Ramzan Begum Sirajudeen,
Nasrin Banu Sirajudeen, Hyrun Fathima Sirajudeen and Asharudeen Chelladurai. All four were arrested under the
Customs Act, 1962. Officials said Nasrin and Hyrun
were siblings and were related to Ramzan and Asharudeen.
“The
group was not at all cooperative; they did not reveal much detail. Each was
carrying around 450 to 500 grams. The gold was stuck to the soles of their
feet, and some bars were also found on the trolleys,” a senior customs official
told TOI.
The
official added that two other men had travelled with the group but were not
booked, as no gold was found in their luggage.
Further
investigation is under way, customs officials said.