Karipur: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs together apprehended gold worth Rs 4.48 crores at Kozhikode International Airport. DRI intercepted three persons smuggling 5.26 kg of gold, while Customs seized gold valued at Rs 1.43 crore along with cigarettes. This operation is said to be one of the largest interceptions at the airport in recent times.

DRI unearthed a gold smuggling racket wherein gold was intended to be disposed of in the wastebasket of an Air Indigo flight arriving at Kozhikode from Dubai. According to details provided by airport authorities, the DRI team conducted a thorough search, resulting in the seizure of 4 kg of gold bars and 200 gms of sheets from a restroom. It is suspected that they intended to employ airport staff or labourers to facilitate the retrieval of the gold. The estimated worth of the confiscated gold amounts to Rs 2.85 crore.

A resident of Thamarassery was also nabbed for unlawfully transporting 1.019 kg of gold compound hidden in steel bars. Approximately 860 grams of gold were recovered from the bars valued at Rs 56 lakhs.

Another case of a Tirurangadi resident who flew from Abu Dhabi was found concealing gold in capsule form in his body. The officials confirmed that it was worth almost Rs 83.23 lakh. A visitor from Ras Al-Khaimah was also caught for a similar offence, smuggling 5990 cigarettes worth Rs 60 lakhs.