Karipur: In a series of successful operations, the Air Customs at Kozhikode International Airport has intercepted significant amounts of contraband, including gold, cigarettes, and foreign currency, valued at millions of rupees. 

During the operations, a total of 6.876 kilograms of gold, with an estimated worth of Rs 4.65 crores, was seized by the customs authorities. Additionally, 81,000 cigarettes, valued at Rs 9.46 lakhs, and Rs 16.27 lakhs worth of foreign currency were confiscated in separate incidents.

The first major seizure involved the apprehension of 4.5 kilograms of gold, valued at Rs 3 crores, from eight passengers. In another instance, 1.567 kilograms of gold, worth Rs 1.08 crores, was discovered concealed in the body by two individuals. Gold in various forms was smuggled in dresses, trolley bags, straps of ladies' bags, stacks of jeans, emergency lamps, toys, remote control, and knees. Attempts were also made to smuggle gold as plates in batteries, between paper sheets, and mixed in milk powder.

Furthermore, the Air Customs also intercepted 2.33 kilograms of gold concealed within the steel mesh of children's clothes, as well as 88 gold rings from another passenger.

The CISF confiscated the cigarettes from a passenger traveling from Dubai. Foreign currencies worth 16.27 crores were seized from another passenger bound for Dubai on SpiceJet.