Air customs sleuths busted an attempt to smuggle gold into the country and seized 898 grams of gold worth Rs 26 lakh from a passenger who landed from Colombo, at Chennai airport on Saturday.

H M Mohamed Ashraff who arrived from Colombo by Jet Airways Flight No.9W 253, had concealed three gold bars and seven gold strips in the cardboard bottom and metallic frame of three bags. The gold strips were coated with black paint.

The seizure was made based on a tip off. Customs officials intercepted Mohamed Ashraf as soon as he arrived.

He told officials that he was not carrying gold. But his answers failed to convince officials who examined his four check in bags thoroughly.

Three gold rods were found from inside bottom of three bags while seven gold strips were found from metallic frames of two bags. Mohamed Ashraf was arrested.