Pune: Customs officials have arrested a passenger after seizing gold paste worth Rs 78 lakh hidden in a pipe under an aircraft seat at Maharashtra's Pune International Airport, officials said on Thursday.
He said that on the basis of profiling, a passenger coming from Dubai was stopped on Wednesday, but nothing objectionable was found in his personal search or baggage check.
"Since the passenger's behavior was very suspicious, he was asked whether he had hidden anything in the aircraft. As his answers further increased the suspicion, his seat and some other places in the aircraft were searched. During the search, a "The gold paste was found hidden in a pipe under the seat where he was sitting," a customs official who found the packet said.
The officer said 24 carat gold was seized, weighing 1,088.3 grams and worth Rs 78 lakh.
He said that on the basis of profiling, a passenger coming from Dubai was stopped on Wednesday, but nothing objectionable was found in his personal search or baggage check.
"Since the passenger's behavior was very suspicious, he was asked whether he had hidden anything in the aircraft. As his answers further increased the suspicion, his seat and some other places in the aircraft were searched. During the search, a "The gold paste was found hidden in a pipe under the seat where he was sitting," a customs official who found the packet said.
The officer said 24 carat gold was seized, weighing 1,088.3 grams and worth Rs 78 lakh.
