Passenger held with Rs 30 lakh worth diamonds, rubies

Chennai, Oct 31 (UNI) Customs officials at Anna International Airport seized Rs 30 lakh worth diamonds, rubies and precious stones, weighing five kg from a passenger, who arrived from Bangkok yesterday.

Air Customs Commissioner C Rajan told reporters here today that the passenger, R M Nandagopal, hailing from Jaipur in Rajasthan, was arrested when he arrived yesterday by an Indian flight with two suitcases.

When customs officials questioned him, he said there was nothing in the suitcase.

As the screening revealed nothing, officials opened one of the suitcases and found ten packets of noodles.

When they opened it, they found five white packets, containing the diamonds, rubies, synthetic yellow sapphire, white stones and semi-precious stones weighing five kg, altogether.

They were wrapped in carbon paper to prevent detection from screening.

He said he was asked to handover the suitcase to a person at the airport for a payment of Rs 60,000.

Nandagopal was arrested and remanded in custody.

UNI