Tamil Nadu Couple Held at Kochi Airport with ₹2 Crore Gold Paste
The Customs department at Cochin International Airport intercepted a couple from Tamil Nadu on Monday, allegedly attempting to smuggle gold paste valued at approximately ₹2 crore.
The accused were identified as Rifnas Hamed Mohammed Sharif, 26, and his wife, Janofer Kadar Beevi Umar Farook, 23, both residents of Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu. They arrived from Abu Dhabi and were subjected to a detailed search based on intelligence inputs.
Customs officials recovered gold paste cleverly concealed inside the stitched waistline of the trousers worn by the couple. Upon extraction, the gold weighed 1,353.92 grams, with a market value of ₹1.93 crore.
The duo has been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the gold and the intended recipients.
This seizure comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Customs department to curb gold smuggling through the airport, which has seen several similar cases in recent months.
