KOCHI: The AIU at the customs department at the Kochi airport on Friday morning seized gold worth Rs 27.70 lakhs. According to Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), a passenger from Dubai arrived in Kochi on flight SG 017 and was intercepted at the green channels by customs officials.

During a security check, the officials discovered a packet of gold weighing 543 grams in compounded form from the underwear to which it was stitched, officials said. The packet was immediately seized by the customs officers while they informed the Airport Authority about the seizure and detention.

The accused identified as Ashok a native of Ernakulam has been arrested for interrogation. Further probe is underway, the officials added.

In the other incident last week, 833 grams of gold worth nearly Rs 38 lakh was recovered from the Kochi airport.

“During the examination of the said passenger, 3 nos of transparent latex capsule shaped packets containing thick brown coloured paste-like material, suspected to be gold in compound form, weighing 833.40 gram concealed in the passenger’s rectum were recovered and seized,” a statement from the Customs department read