Chennai: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a novel gold-smuggling racket at Chennai airport, involving two customs havildars who helped couriers evade detection by arranging fake X-ray reports declaring that they were not concealing gold internally.About 2.5kg of 24-carat gold worth ₹4 crore was seized from five smugglers — an x-ray technician engaged by the customs department on contract, two smugglers of Sri Lankan origin, and two havildars, Arun and Karthik. They were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.DRI officials suspect the smugglers may have snuck out at least four consignments using the modus operandi with the help of the havildars.Passengers intercepted at Chennai airport on suspicion of carrying contraband are usually subjected to x-ray screening for internal concealment if searches of their baggage and clothing yield nothing suspicious. Such x-ray reports can establish the concealment of contraband — including gold and narcotics — and are used as evidence during trial.Acting on a tip-off regarding collusion between customs staff and smuggling cartels, DRI officers kept watch at Chennai airport and intercepted two passengers who had arrived from Sri Lanka on a SriLankan Airlines flight. They were allegedly carrying gold paste concealed in their rectum. The officers said they caught Arun helping the two evade detection.During inquiry, DRI officials arrested Karthik and the contractual x-ray staffer. “Karthik, who was posted outside the airport, was in touch with the smuggling cartels. He alerted Arun, who was posted at the customs channels in the arrival terminal, about passengers arriving with gold. If they were intercepted, Arun would take them to the x-ray room and arrange a fake report to mislead the customs officer on duty,” a DRI source said.DRI is investigating the role of the customs havildars to determine whether more personnel were part of the network.
