Bengaluru: Crude gold worth over Rs 87 lakh was found inside a polythene packet in a trash can of a toilet at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday.
Customs officials suspect the gold weighing 2.8kg was smuggled into Bengaluru and possibly meant to be picked up by other smuggling ring members from the airport.
According to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Bengaluru Customs, their team combed KIA premises following information that a large quantity of gold has been smuggled from the Gulf. An inspection of a washroom in the international departure hold area on Tuesday revealed a suspicious black packet in a trash can.
Sleuths opened the packet to find four crude gold chains and one bangle (kada) weighing 2800gm covered in insulation tape to avoid detection under scanners.
Customs officials believe the packet was deliberately placed in the bin for an aide to pick up and transport to another location in the country by air and hand over to the racketeers. Customs officials have stepped up vigil at the departure hold area, sources added.