Ahmedabad: Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport arrested a 24-year-old passenger after recovering gold concealed in capsules hidden inside his body. The capsules were extracted under medical supervision, leading to the recovery of 422.8 grams of gold valued at Rs 65.7 lakh, officials said.According to a statement issued by the department, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted the passenger, a native of Godhra, after he arrived from Jeddah via Doha on Sunday.During examination, officials found that the passenger had concealed 467 grams of gold paste in his body. The paste was later processed into a 24-carat gold bar weighing 422.8 grams.The gold bar was seized and the passenger was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.Investigators said efforts are underway to determine whether the accused was acting on behalf of a smuggling network or was carrying the contraband in exchange for financial gains. Officials added that although instances of gold and contraband being smuggled through body concealment have declined due to advanced airport scanning systems, organised syndicates continue to deploy carriers to evade detection.
