Mangalore, Mar 23: The customs officials once again thwarted an attempt of smuggling of gold from a passenger and seized gold staple pins totally weighing 577.000 grams and valued at Rs.17,19,460 at Mangalore International Airport on March 23, Sunday.
The arrested passenger has been identified as Nesif Kowal (28) a resident of Bevinja, PO Thekkil Ferry, Via Chengala, Kasaragod and seized gold staple pins concealed as silver colour coated staple pins in 18 carton boxes of vegetable dry fruits from the passenger arrived by Air India Express flight IX814 from Dubai at 7.15 am.
Operations were conducted under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Customs Krishna Kumar Prasad, led by Superintendent B.Prabhakara Poojary along with Superintendents Lionel Fernandes, B A Kariappa, H G Yogesh and Inspectors G Kumaraswamy, K T Preethi Suma, S Ranjan Behera and Ankit Kumar and Hawaldar Gulabi.
Commissioner of Customs D Purushotham will conduct further investigation.