Kochi: A couple was arrested at the Kochi International Airport after customs officials seized gold worth nearly ₹2 crore from them.

The accused were identified as Tamil Nadu natives Rifnas Hameed Mohammed Sheriff (26) and his wife Janofer Khader Beevi Umar Farooq (23).

The couple arrived from Abu Dhabi on July 13. During a customs inspection, officials found gold in paste form stitched into the waistband of the trousers they were wearing.

According to customs, the seized gold paste would yield 1,353.92 grams of 24-carat gold after extraction. The recovered gold is estimated to be worth more than ₹1.93 crore in the market.

The couple has been arrested, and an investigation is underway.