Two arrested for trying to smuggle gold worth Rs 76 lakh via Karipur airport

Malappuram: An attempt to smuggle gold worth Rs 76 lakh from Abu Dhabi to India via the Karipur International Airport was foiled by the police. Police have taken a passenger and a person associated with the smuggling gang under custody.

The 24 carat gold weighing 1,260 grams was seized outside the airport from Malappuram Valancherry native Shafiq (34). The man was trying to smuggle the gold in capsule form concealed inside his body.

Shafiq was intercepted by the Malappuram police after he had finished the customs check and crossed the recently installed modern X-ray facility machine costing Rs 70 lakh, outside the airport. Based on a confidential information received by Malappuram district police, Shafiq was arrested. He was taken to the hospital for medical examination and four capsules were found in his stomach. Following which, Malappuram native Rafeeq (40) from Thirurangadi was apprehended by the police from outside the airport, as he had come to receive the gold from Shafiq. Rafeeq’s car was also taken into custody by the police. He is being questioned in detail regarding his involvement in the smuggling attempt.

This is the 35th gold smuggling case that the police have successfully uncovered at the Karipur International Airport. Following the tragic incident of the death of five persons involved in the clash between gold smuggling gangs here months back, the police have taken action to dismantle the gold smuggling gangs centralized at the Kozhikode Airport.

The police have seized over 114 kilograms of gold valued at around Rs 68.4 crores from 127 passengers in 125 cases from the Karipur International Airport. In an effort to tighten the law against gold smuggling gangs, the police took action against 184 persons involved in gold smuggling operations, and 56 vehicles were seized. Arjun Ayanki, the mastermind behind gold smuggling operations, along with six criminals, was arrested and officials from Customs, CISF and higher officials involved in illegal activities were also brought before law by the police.