Based on passenger profiling, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Chennai Customs, intercepted two Indian male passengers who arrived at Chennai International Airport from Singapore on October 24, 2026.

  

During a personal search, both passengers were found to be carrying three oval-shaped capsules each, containing yellow-coloured paste concealed inside their bodies. The capsules were extracted, and the paste contained therein was recovered.

  

Upon extraction and processing of the paste, gold ingots weighing 924 grams and 731 grams, respectively, were recovered. The recovered gold was assayed and certified by an authorised assayer as 1,655 grams of 24-carat gold, valued at Rs.2,08,86,828.20.

The recovered gold was seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, and both passengers were arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962.

Further investigation is in progress.

Chennai Customs cautions the public against smuggling syndicates that lure travellers with free or sponsored trips and promises of easy money in exchange for carrying gold or unknown items on their behalf. Concealing capsules inside the body is not only a serious offence under the Customs Act, 1962, punishable by arrest and prosecution, but also poses a grave risk to life, as a ruptured capsule or one causing an obstruction can result in fatal internal injuries. Members of the public are urged not to fall prey to such offers.

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SK/RJ

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