Customs officials seize gold valued at Rs 25.45 lakh at Mangaluru International Airport

MANGALURU: Customs officials at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on Thursday produced a person arrested on charges of smuggling gold valued at Rs 25.45-lakh, before the jurisdictional court.
The accused – Sumesh from Kasaragod had arrived at MIA on October 4. Officials had doubts about the heating element they found in an electric rice cooker, Joannes George, joint commissioner of customs, Mangaluru customs commissionerate, said.
Accordingly, the heating element of the electric cooker seized was examined on Wednesday and officials found that gold weighing 499.260 grams was concealed inside it. Sumesh had arrived from Dubai on an Air India Express flight.
Customs officials subsequently arrested Sumesh on Wednesday. Officials on September 27 had seized gold valued at Rs 33.80 lakh that was left concealed in a pipe below a seat on the aircraft.
CRICKET BETTING BUSTED
Mangaluru City Police on Thursday busted a cricket betting racket in the city by busting four cases. Police seized Rs 2.67 lakh in cash from the accused, seized 22 mobile phones and a car. City police commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash in a tweet said the accused were using special apps to carry out this illegal activity. Police arrested 16 persons in connection with these four cases, Vikash Kumar noted.