The arrested have been identified as Pallikere Aramu and Abdul Nazar Bekal, residents of Mavval near Pakkam in Kasaragod district of Kerala. Based on the specific intelligence input, the officials of DRI intercepted the two, who arrived at Mangalore Airport by Air India Express Flight from Dubai at 9.45 am. The saffron weighing 18 kgs were found in two separate baggages of the passengers. While nine kg of saffron was found concealed in a suitcase, another hoard of nine kg was kept in a cardboard carton which contained dress materials and food stuffs.

The DRI Additional Director General R Venkataraman stated in a press release that they have registered case and further investigation is under progress. This is the second major seizure of smuggled Iranian saffron at Mangalore Airport. DRI had arrested two and seized saffron worth Rs 20 lakh on July 16.