TN custom officials seize Rs 13 lk contraband

Chennai, Nov 3: Customs officials at the Anna International Airport here seized contraband worth Rs 13 lakh from four passengers who disembarked from a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Colombo on Sunday, Nov 2 night, airport sources said on Monday, Nov 3. They said contraband worth Rs 11.60 lakh was seized from R Noordin (28), S Fakruddin Ahmed (32) and M Sahul Hamid (26), all natives of Illayangudi in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu and residents of Chennai City.

On suspicion, the trio were stopped by the Customs officials from going out of the airport through the green channel.

A check on their suitcases revealed 120 mobile phones, 15 MP3 players, computer spare parts and digital camera memory chips, all worth Rs 11.60 lakh.

The trio stayed at Mannady, near Parrys Area, and used to supply material the traders at Burma Bazaar. They were engaged in purchasing electronic items in Malaysia and used to come to Colombo to board flight to Chennai. In another incident, Customs officials found 260 ornamental fishes in water packets in the suitcase of S Rajasekar (35) who also travelled on the same flight. He was a native of Chennai.

The consignment was worth Rs 1.40 lakh. Rajasekar was detained for questioning and the contraband seized.

UNI