OFFICE OF THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS
                 COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
                 NEDUMBASSERY, COCHIN ­ 683 111.
                 Tel: 0484-2610077 Fax: 0484-2610075

             Cochin Airport Customs Seizes Gold worth Rs.12 Lakhs


       On 10-05-2012, one lady passenger dressed in the `purdah ( abaya) and
scarf was intercepted near exit gate of Customs Arrival hall, on suspicion while
she was coming out with her husband and two children, opting customs clearance
through green channel. On verification of the Passport her name found to be Smt.
Benzy Mathew and has arrived from Jeddah by SaudiAirlines flight No. SV 776.
Since a Christian lady was wearing purdah it arouse suspicion. On personal search
of her body by the lady officer, 426 grams gold jewellery worth Rs. 12.23 Lakhs
were found concealed under the long sleeves of purdah and scarf.
       The same were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 on the
reasonable belief that the same are liable for confiscation under the provisions of
Section 111 of the said Act. In her statement, recorded immediately after the
seizure, she admitted that she wore the purdah and scraf to conceal the gold
ornaments which she worn and to avoid detection and payment of duty. A case
was registered against the said passenger. The seizure was effected by the AIU
superintendents viz. S/shri. T.B. Karthikeyan , A.D Joseph, C.V. Thampi,
C.K.Gopi, Smt. Indira and Shri. L.K. Arun ,inspector under the supervision of
Shri. C. Madhavan, and Shri. Nasser khan Deputy Commissioners


Dated : 10-05-2012.
                                                    (C. MADHAVAN)
                      DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (Airport)