VASCO: The Air intelligence unit of Goa Customs, attached to Dabolim international airport on Monday seized 2.5kg gold jewellery which was concealed and tucked away in the rear toilet of an Air India flight AI-994. The flight had arrived from Dubai.
According to Commissioner of Customs, Goa, K Anpazhakan, after the Air India flight was parked and the passengers had disembarked, the Customs staff, acting on a tip-off, rummage through the aircraft and found three plastic bundles from the rear toilet. “Crew members, transit passengers and ground staff were quizzed. However, no one owned up for the catch”.
After this, the packets were opened. Gold jewellery and three gold bars, weighing about 2.532 kg and valued at Rs 65 lakh were found in the packets. “We have seized the gold and initiated a probe,” he said.
Later, the flight left for Bangalore after Customs officials completed their formalities.
“The seizure was made by the officers of Goa Customs led by Assistant commissioner of airport Vivekananda Reddy under the supervision and direction of S K Sinha, Commissioner of Customs of Goa K Anpazhakan” Custom officials told.
It may be recalled that the air intelligence Goa had seized foreign currency in two different cases worth Rs 22 lakh early this month.
