Pune: A man from Chennai, who landed at Pune International airport on Sunday from Dubai, has been arrested by the Customs department for allegedly trying to smuggle 925 gm gold paste worth Rs 28.3 lakh. 

The accused has been identified as Mohamed Safeer Umar Sowbar, a resident of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

He arrived by a SpiceJet flight and during a personal search, four packets of paste containing gold powder concealed on his body were recovered. 

“The gold was seized under the reasonable belief that the same was attempted to be smuggled in India and hence liable for confiscation under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. In his statement recorded under section 108 of the Customs Act, 1962, the passenger has admitted possession, carriage, concealment and recovery of the gold under seizure. He has been arrested and further investigation is under progress,” said Deputy Commissioner Bharat Nawale. 

821 boxes of cigarette seized from foreigners

The Customs department officials also seized 821 boxes of Pine brand cigarette containing 1,64,200 sticks that were seized from seven foreigners, all from Afghanistan. They were made to pay Rs 35,000 fine and the cigarettes were seized. All of them are students.