8.7 kg gold seized from bus, two held

According to sources, on a tip-off that the huge quantity of gold bars was being smuggled through the coastal highway by an omni bus, the DRI sleuths accelerated their process of preventing the offence and started a surprise vehicle check. 

When the omni bus reached Velankanni in Nagapattinam, they found that it was carrying the contraband. Soon the officials intercepted two suspects and searched their belongings. They found the gold bars concealed in their bags. Subsequently, they seized the yellow metal and arrested the duo. Subsequently, they were taken to the Customs office in Nagapattinam and the gold was inspected. Sources said, the gold bars weighing 8.7 kg were worth Rs 2.17 crore. 

The officials refused to reveal the identity of the accused who were from Nagore and Chennai. A similar seizure was made in 2014 when 11 kilos of gold was smuggled by Vedaranyam youth at Paravai checkpost. In 2015, two persons from Nagore were arrested for smuggling 13 kg of gold.