Representational Photo (Thinkstock)
Six crude gold rods coated with silver and two gold coins, together worth Rs 13.33 lakh, were seized from a man who arrived in Kochi today by a flight from Dubai, customs officials said.
The gold rods were concealed and stitched along the beading of the hand baggage of the passenger, hailing from Kannur district, they said.
Naushad was intercepted at the exit gate while he was passing through the Green Channel on suspicion that he was carrying contraband gold.
He replied in the negative when asked if he had any gold with him, but an X-ray scan of his baggage (two pieces checked in and one hand baggage), showed dark coloured metal rods in hand luggage alongside the beadings, a customs release said.
The beadings were cut open and the crude gold rods weighing 480 grams were found concealed inside. He was then subjected to a body search and two gold coins totally weighing eight grams were also recovered.
Naushad was arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 and later released on bail.