Gold worth half crore rupees seized at Karipur Airport; gold smuggled by mixing it with other metals

MALAPPURAM: The Customs have seized 1,037 gm gold worth Rs.52.78 lakhs from a native of Kozhikode, Abdul Shareef (25), at the Calicut International Airport in Karipur. The gold was found hidden in cycle parts that the accused, who came from Al Ain, brought in separate big bags.

The gold was found hidden in the metal part that is used to increase the height of the cycle seat. Though, at first the weight of the metal part raised suspicions, the Customs were unable to find anything.

When the metal was taken to a goldsmith for inspection, the metal had the color of silver and metal. If it was cut like this, the gold would have been visible. The metal object was later melted to separate the gold. The object was made of 81% gold together with Zinc, Nickel and Silver.

It took about eight hours to separate the gold completely. The Customs official said that it was for the first time that gold was smuggled by mixing it with other metals.