Gold paste worth ₹2 crore seized from Tamil Nadu couple at Kochi airport
A couple from Tamil Nadu was arrested at Kochi airport for attempting to smuggle gold paste worth nearly ₹2 crore. Customs officials discovered the contraband concealed within the waistline of the suspects' trousers after they arrived from Abu Dhabi.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in airport security and the methods used by smuggling syndicates to bypass customs regulations.
The Customs team at the Kochi airport in Kerala intercepted a couple from Tamil Nadu allegedly carrying gold paste valued at around ₹2 crore.
Rifnas Hamed Mohammed Sharif, 26, and his wife, Janofer Kadar Beevi Umar Farook, 23, hailing from Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu, were arrested upon their arrival from Abu Dhabi on Monday (July 13, 2026). Customs officials seized gold paste and extracted gold weighing 1,353.92 grams, worth ₹1.93 crore. The contraband had been concealed inside the stitched waistline of the trousers worn by the couple.
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