The customs department on Sunday arrested six persons at the Chennai Airport for attempting to smuggle gold and foreign currency hidden under their hair-wigs. Officials say that the two passengers were trying to smuggle in gold from Dubai.
According to the reports, the officials seized 5.5 kilograms of gold worth Rs 2.53 crore and foreign currency worth Rs 24 lakh. The officials later shared a video of the incident where the arrested man can be seen removing his wig and peeling off a packet that was glued to his partly-tonsured head.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
In an official press release, the Customs officials said that based on a tip-off, Magroob Akbarali (a 39-year-old resident of Ramanathapuram) and Zubair Hassan Rafiyutheen (a 26-year-old resident of Chennai), who arrived from Dubai were intercepted at the exit. On examination, they were found to be wearing wigs. Two gold paste packets, weighing 698 grams were seized.
A similar incident took place on Friday where three persons identified as Syed Ahamedulla, Santhosh Selvam and Abdullah were arrested for concealing gold in their wigs. Upon finding their hair suspicious, the officials examined the trio and found three gold paste packets weighing 2410 grams hidden under the wig.
Similarly, a 42-year-old man who arrived from Dubai to Chennai was searched and was found hiding three bundles of gold paste.