Customs officials at Cochin Airport in Kerala successfully foiled a gold smuggling attempt on Monday. The incident occurred when a passenger arrived from Doha via Dubai and was intercepted at the airport’s exit gate. Upon a detailed examination, eight gold chains, totaling 466.5 grams, were discovered meticulously concealed inside the soles of the passenger’s shoes. The gold, valued at over ₹ 30 lakhs, was promptly seized by authorities.
This successful interception highlights the vigilance of customs officials in detecting and preventing smuggling activities. The authorities are conducting further investigations into the matter to uncover the source of the gold and the extent of the smuggling operation.
This incident comes just days after another gold smuggling attempt was thwarted at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. On August 9th, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 1,390.85 grams of gold from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The gold, concealed within a passenger’s backpack and shoe, was discovered during a routine search.
The frequent occurrence of these gold smuggling attempts underscores the ongoing efforts by smugglers to exploit loopholes and circumvent customs regulations. The authorities are stepping up measures to combat these illegal activities and ensure the integrity of the country’s borders.
