Not Just Gold, Gulf Passengers Smuggling Cigarettes too! MIA Customs Seize 120 Cartons
Mangaluru: Following close on its heels after the customs officials at Mangaluru International Airport had busted a 23 year-old passenger Saifudeen Thekkil P from Kasargod who was trying to smuggle 633 gms of 24 karat gold in paste form concealed as four capsules in his rectum, traveling from Dubai to Mangaluru, yet another pass was caught by the officials for trying to smuggle 120 cartons of imported cigarettes.
Superintendent of Customs, Sreenath H V speaking to Team Mnagalorean said, “A person waiting to board a train at Mangaluru Junction Railway Station for Mumbai was nabbed with 120 cartons contraband cigarettes, of ‘Dunhill’ and a flavoured brand of cigarettes named ‘Gudang Garam”. The person had come to the Mangaluru railway station from Kasaragod on a Pune bound train and was waiting to board a train to Mumbai. On suspicion, the officials interrogated the person, and were successful in seizing the illegal cigarettes”.
“The person was handed over to Assistant Commissioner of Customs Raghavendra, Superintendent Pradeep Kumar and Inspector Rohidas, for further investigation. The person was later allowed to go after getting the proper details. In spite of persons getting caught for smuggling gold and other contraband items, they are still taking chances in getting caught and facing all the consequences. Many of these persons are carriers for smugglers who are paid money to do the job, and unfortunately get caught by the officials. Recently we have noted that persons who travel regularly between Mangaluru and Gulf are not involved in such activities, but those who travel once a year or once in two years are the ones trying to smuggle contraband items” added Sreenath.
“Our Commissioner of Customs at Mangaluru-Baswaraj Nalegave sensitized the customs officers at Mangaluru International Airport on various modus opernadi adopted by the smugglers/carriers, directing the officers to step up the vigil to take on the challenges posed by the smugglers who are constantly evolving their tactics to hide gold and other contraband using unsuspecting objects. And we are trying our best to do our duties as per Commissioners direction” added Sreenath.
Note: Cigarette images are for illustration only
