Half a Kilo Gold Hidden in Underwear: Limping Walk Exposes Smuggler at Lucknow Airport

A bizarre case of gold smuggling has come to light at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, where customs officials apprehended a passenger who adopted a rather unusual method to dodge security. However, his heavy burden and limping gait gave him away, leading right into the hands of vigilance.

Suspicious Walk Raised Alarms

According to details, an Indigo flight (6E-1424) from Sharjah landed at the Amausi airport around 7:20 AM on Wednesday. While the customs team was routinely screening arriving passengers, they noticed an individual whose walking pattern was visibly unnatural. He was taking cautious and limping steps, which instantly aroused the suspicion of the observant officers.

Upon being intercepted, the passenger panicked and started giving evasive replies. Realizing something was amiss, the team escorted him to a private enclosure for a thorough personal search, the results of which stunned the investigators.

Gold Paste Stitched Inside Underwear

The accused had cleverly packed 472.100 grams of gold in a paste form inside plastic packets and stitched them right into the waistband of his underwear to bypass metal detectors and visual checks. The sheer weight of the precious metal was the real reason behind his unnatural limping walk. The seized gold is estimated to be worth around Rs 70,81,500 in the international market.

Investigation Underway

The detained smuggler has been identified as Kedarnath Mahto, a resident of Gopalगंज, Bihar. During interrogation, he failed to produce any legal documents or tax receipts for the gold. The customs department has confiscated the gold consignment and taken the accused into custody. Further investigations are underway to unearth the broader syndicate and trace the intended recipient of the smuggled gold.