In one of the biggest hauls of smuggled gold in recent months, the Customs Department seized 9.31 kg of the precious metal valued at Rs 2.32 crore from an Indian passenger who landed at the airport here from Thailand.
The traveller, Bhupathi Kannan, has been arrested, an official said today.
"We have recovered gold chains collectively weighing 9.31 kg from a passenger, Bhupathi Kannan, who landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport last night," the official attached to Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department said.
Kannan, a frequent visitor to Thailand, had meticulously concealed the chains in his cargo pant, the official said, adding, "He was intercepted and upon checking, the gold chains were found in his possession. He was subsequently placed under arrest."
Kannan, who was acting as a "carrier" of the consignment, confessed to have smuggled gold once in the past, the AIU officer said.
The Customs Department said he must have been involved in gold smuggling for a long time, going by his frequent visits to the Southeast Asian country.
