Team Herald

VASCO: The air intelligence wing of Customs, Goa unit, on seized 2800 grams of gold worth Rs 73 lakh which was being smuggled by a Ratnagiri native through Goa International Airport at Dabolim, early morning Thursday.

The accused person has been arrested. 

According to officials of Goa Customs, based on specific intelligence input, their air intelligence wing intercepted an international passenger (name and details withheld) who had arrived at Goa by Qatar Airways flight from Doha via Dubai on Tuesday morning.

“The passenger had concealed gold jewelleries, totally weighing 2800 grams valued at Rs 73 lakh in person. The recovered gold is seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act 1962. The passenger has been placed under arrest under Section 104 of Customs Act and further investigation is in progress,” Commissioner of Customs K Anpazhakan told Herald.

Meanwhile, this is the second such seizure of gold by Goa Customs in last one month as on February 27, Goa Customs seized 1.164 kilograms of crude gold worth Rs 31.59 lakh and had arrested a Kerala native who had attempted to smuggle gold though Goa airport.