Kochi: The police on Saturday stated that Manhas Abulaise, a cabin crew member who was arrested for smuggling gold at Nedumbassery airport, was a frequent offender. He has smuggled gold through various airports in the country, they added.
Manhas, a cabin crew member of SpiceJet, has smuggled gold six times through Cochin airport. He has also smuggled gold through Chennai and Madurai airports.
It is reported that the gold was smuggled for a mafia in Chennai.
The Air Intelligence department of Customs in Kochi is probing the case.
Over 2.55 kg of gold worth over Rs one crore was seized from Manhas Abulaise at Cochin International Airport on Friday in a joint operation by personnel of DRI and Customs.
The SpiceJet crew member, Manhas, hailing from Palakkad in Kerala, was arrested.
The 2.55 kg of gold in compound form was recovered from a special pocket in his underwear during a search soon after his flight from Ras al-Khaimah landed at the airport.
Malappuram native Jainab was also arrested at the airport on Friday for smuggling 915 gram gold compound. He had arrived in Kochi from Dubai via IndiGo flight. The gold compound capsules were hidden in the rectum.
