Chennai Customs arrested an Emirates crew member on Monday, after he was caught smuggling contraband at the Anna International Airport. The Indian crew member of
Emirates flight EK-544 was caught with 9.46 kg of gold, valued at about Rs 11.5 crore. Officers said that the man was wearing three Velcro belts tied around his torse. These belts contained "ten packets of gold paste packed in white paper", a TOI report stated. When the paste was processed, 9.46 kg of 24-carat gold was extracted and seized under the Customs Act. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) stopped the crew member following "specific intelligence". Four others have also been arrested. These have been described as three receivers and a passenger who allegedly helped move the gold. They were picked up from a hotel close to the airport. All five were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate of the Special Court for Customs for judicial custody, and officials said further investigation is underway.
