Airline passenger hid smuggled gold foil in chocolates

The foil, valued at Dh137,000, was the latest attempt to get around India's 18 per cent goods tax

Customs at an Indian airport recovered 531.20 grams of gold foils hidden inside chocolate boxes. Courtesy: Asian News International 

An airline passenger in India was arrested for attempting to smuggle gold foil hidden around bars of chocolate.

Custom officers at Kolkata airport recovered 530 grams of gold, valued at Dh137,000 ($37,299), news agency ANI reported on Friday.

The man landed and was caught by officers at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Officials did not reveal the city he had travelled from or the airline.

This is not the first bizarre attempt to smuggle gold this year.

In January, authorities arrested a passenger coming to Kolkata from Bangkok for smuggling gold paste worth Dh158,712 ($43,210) by hiding it in his underwear and pants, New Delhi Television reported.

Last month, Indian customs officials arrested a passenger who travelled from Dubai, after they found almost about 500 grams of gold in his body.

The man arrived at Kozhikode International Airport on an Air India Express flight.

Customs officers who screened the man found he had concealed the gold in four capsules and inserted them in his body.

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