In 2022, Customs officers in Chennai seized practically 205 kilos of gold, over 27 kilos of narcotics, and unique animals equivalent to albino porcupine, white lipped/purple chested tamarin, leucistic sugar glider, De Brazza’s monkey, kingsnakes, ball pythons, and Aldabra tortoises, in accordance with a press observe from Chennai Air Customs. The Customs officers additionally shared details about the quantity of international forex seized and arrests made in numerous circumstances.

In accordance with the assertion from the Principal Commissioner of Customs of Chennai Worldwide Airport, a complete of 12 individuals have been arrested in main circumstances of drug smuggling in 2022, involving cocaine, methaqualone, heroin, ganja and MDMA, valued at about Rs 14.02 crore. These medication have been hidden within the type of capsules inside inside clothes, capsules swallowed by passengers, hidden inside purses or checked-in baggage, in footwear, inside child powder and evening cream bottles, and within the linings on the aspect of a carton field. These medication arrived from Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.

Customs officers additionally arrested 97 individuals in 293 gold smuggling circumstances in 2022, and confiscated 205.84 kg gold value Rs 94.22 crore. In accordance with the press assertion, the vast majority of gold smuggling incidents have been associated to Dubai, Sharjah, and numerous Gulf nations. There have been 5 circumstances associated to smuggling of diamond and different treasured stones valued at Rs 1.269 crore weighing 5274.18 karats. A complete of 81 circumstances have been registered in over smuggling of international forex value Rs 10.978 crore, and 7 folks have been arrested. An vintage bronze Buddha statue was additionally seized by the Chennai Customs officers final yr.

Learn: Iguanas, macaws, marmosets: Unique animal craze turns Chennai into trafficking hub

Furthermore, final yr alone, eleven situations of smuggling of unique species of wildlife have been detected, primarily from Bangkok, Thailand. The animals have been detained underneath the Wild Life (Safety) Act, and 5 folks have been arrested in these circumstances. Chennai Customs officers additionally registered many circumstances over smuggling of cigarettes, electronics and different miscellaneous items value Rs 3.90 crore in 2022.