Author: Paul Ploumis10 Jun 2015 Last updated at 08:31:35 GMT

MUMBAI (Scrap Monster): Air Customs Intelligence officials at the Karipur International Airport in Southern India has seized gold worth Rs 63.7 lakhs from three passengers who arrived by different flights. A total of 20 gold biscuits were recovered from the passengers. Two of them were arrested and the third was being questioned, customs officials stated.

According to Customs Superintendent, the gold bars were found concealed in the rectum. The first passenger, who came by Air India Express flight at 11 AM, had seven gold biscuits worth Rs 22 lakh hidden in his body. The same quantity of gold was recovered from the second passenger who had arrived by Qatar Airways flight around 8.30 AM. The third passenger who came by Oman Airlines flight had concealed six gold biscuits worth Rs 19.7 lakhs.

The gold smuggling incidents have spiked up in the country during recent times. The quantity of gold seized during 2014-’15 has multiplied 10 times over the past two year period. The figures released by customs, police and revenue agencies indicate that a total of over 3,500 kilograms of gold were seized during 2014-’15.

Smugglers have devised newer ways to bring gold into the country. Mixer with gold blades and transistors with gold capacitors are a few among the latest trends. Smugglers also use nib of pen, zip of trouser and coil of iron box to smuggle gold.

The Customs Department on Tuesday booked four ground handling staff at Nedumbassery International airport in the same state. The employees belonging to a private ground handling company were arrested for facilitating gold smuggling through the airport. The staff were later produced in the Economic Offences Court and remanded in custody. As per customs officials, the arrested officials were involved in gold smuggling for more than a year. It is estimated that nearly 100 kilograms of gold might have been smuggled by them during this period.