A total of 5.1 kg of gold worth around ₹2 crore was seized and five persons were arrested, in three separate instances at the airport, since Sunday.

According to a release, acting on a tip-off, a family of three, flying from Bangkok, was intercepted on Monday. On frisking them, officials found they were carrying 2.5 kg of gold worth ₹ 97 lakh hidden in zip-lock pouches in their innerwears. Of the three, Ashraf Ali, 59, and his wife Saira Banu, 50, hailing from Chennai, were arrested while their son was not.

Salim, 40, from Ernakulam in Kerala, who came on the same flight, was also searched on suspicion by Customs officials. He was found carrying two gold bars weighing 1 kg, valued at ₹39 lakh, hidden in his socks. Based on information he provided, a person waiting outside the airport to receive the gold was also arrested.

On Sunday, Saidalavi Kunnathodi, 51, from Malappuram in Kerala, who arrived from Abu Dhabi, was intercepted at the exit. Inspection of his checked-in baggage revealed that 1.64 kg of gold, valued at ₹ 64 lakh, was hidden inside a water pump he was carrying. He was arrested. Further investigation is on.