A 45-year-old man who arrived in Mumbai from Dubai yesterday was caught hiding gold bars, collectively weighing 2 kg, in his knee supports at the Sahar international airport. On Friday morning, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials arrested the Kerala-based accused, who is suspected to be associated with a gold smuggling gang.

According to AIU officials, accused Rafique Pillaphottali landed in Mumbai around 4 am from Dubai. He was walking through the green channel without having declared any goods. He also did not have any luggage, other than a small handbag. Customs officials said they smelled a rat looking at his body language. They intercepted him for interrogation. After frisking him, officials found that he was hiding gold bars in his knee braces. He was also carrying $5,500 in the back pocket of his pants. The value of the seized gold is around Rs 50 lakh in the international market.