In the biggest haul in recent times, customs officials seized Monday morning gold coins worth Rs 1 crore from a Karaikal (Puduch-erry) native who runs an Indian restaurant in France.
Sultan Ahmed Abdul Qadir Maraikayar Nazeer Hussain, 34, who reached Chennai by an Emirates aircraft from Dubai at 3.30 am, had wrapped 350 coins weighing eight grams each in a black paper and hid them in diapers kept between chocolate and biscuit boxes in his check-in baggage, while he was carrying 16 coins worth less than Rs 4 lakh in his coat pocket to divert attention if caught. Together the 366 coins weighed 3 kg and are worth a crore.
Passengers caught with undeclared goods worth less than Rs 5 lakh do not face arrest.
Airport sources said Hussain was on the customs radar for the past 15 days and was trying to hoodwink the agency by booking and cancelling tickets in different surnames.
Eventually, he boarded a flight from Paris to Dubai and then to the city. Sources said Hussain was a carrier and had brought the gold for a smuggler.