MALAPPURAM: A passenger bypassed the sophisticated scanning systems of the Karipur airport and attempted to smuggle gold in her body. The said passenger, Shameera (45), a native of Kunnamangalam, was arrested. 1.34 kg of gold was seized from them. Rishad (38) and Jamsheer (35), natives of Kunnamangalam, who are members of the smuggling gang who came to receive gold from Shameera, have also been arrested.

Shameera arrived on an Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi. Police first arrested Rishad and Jamsheer who were waiting outside the airport to take gold. After this, Shameera was also taken into custody. During their body examination, three packets containing gold were found skillfully hidden in their clothes. The police say that the seized gold is worth more than Rs 80 lakhs in the market.

After the diplomatic gold smuggling bust, there was a major drop in gold smuggling to the state, but recently it has resurfaced. Earlier, smugglers used to hide gold in rectum and other places of the body. But they are now getting creative to avoid being caught during the check at the airport. Shameera is the 8th gold smuggler caught by the police outside the Karipur airport in the last month.