Smuggler nabbed with 1.2 kg gold in rectum

A 56-year-old man was caught at the airport trying to smuggle in a record 1.2 kg gold concealed in his rectum. Officials of the customs’ Air Intelligence Unit are flabbergasted at the volume of gold the man had stuffed in his posterior. “The maximum we had seen concealed before was 500 to 600 gm, but this passenger had double the volume,” a customs official said.

Krishnamurthy Chavala arrived from Singapore by Jet Air 9W023 at 12.15 am on Friday. His uncomfortable gait drew the attention of sleuths, who also noticed he was nervous and fidgety.

They picked him up for questioning. A thorough examination revealed 12 gold biscuits, each weighing 100 grams, insulated and placed in his rectum.

Chavala used to run a jewellery business in Bengaluru, but had to shut shop after he incurred heavy losses after demonetisation, the official said.

Early this month, Chavala flew to Singapore to meet his contacts, but they didn’t receive him well. He then decided to return to the city, according to the official. Chavala claimed he had been accosted by a stranger who offered him Rs 20,000 to carry the gold to Bengaluru. He was to hand it over to a contact  at the airport.

He told officials he had agreed to the deal as he was hard-pressed for money. He was produced before a magistrate and sent to judicial custody.