Gold biscuits, computer chips seized at Chennai airport

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 11. Gold biscuits along with gold jewellery, computer chips and latest model cellular phones, worth Rs.5.2 crores, have been seized by the Air Intelligence Unit Customs officials by intercepting 12 consignments marked as ``Diplomatic Cargo''.

The seizure was effected after the booty arrived by a Singapore Airlines flight at the Anna International airport on Tuesday night.

Giving details of the seizure described as ``sensational and the biggest'' at the Chennai airport in recent times, Mr. P. R. V. Ramanan, Chief Commissioner of Customs, and Mrs. Heera Radhakrishnan, Commissioner of Customs (Airport) told presspersons here today that acting on general and specific information, they intercepted an air consignment of 12 packages marked as ``diplomatic cargo'' shortly after it arrived by a Singapore Airlines flight (SQ-410).

As the packages looked alike and neatly packed, one of the package was subjected to a thorough examination on a x-ray machine by intercepting it right at the restricted tarmac area, which led to the recovery of the hidden yellow metal.

All the packages were off-loaded and on examination, 935 gold biscuits with foreign markings and machine-made gold jewellery, totally weighing 119.13 kg, 1,100 numbers of random access memory computer chips, and 150 numbers of the latest model Panasonic GD- 92 cellphones were seized.

Pointing out that this was a novel modus operandi for smuggling yellow metal and other electronic goods through the Chennai airport by using the ``diplomatic cargo tag'' as such consignments were not subjected to customs check, the Chief Commissioner said the name of the ``freight forwarding agency'' in Chennai was found to be fictitious.

Mr. Ramanan and Mrs. Heera Radhakrishnan praised the good work done by the official team led by Mr. C. P. Rao, Additional Customs Commissioner, Mr. K. R. Uday Bhaskar, Deputy Commissioner Air Intelligence Unit, Airport, and Mr.R. Manohar, Deputy Commissioner, Airport.

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