Christian Lady with a Purdah - Another Way to Smuggle
A MAN, his wife and two children were happily walking towards the exit gate through the Green Channel, yesterday at the Cochin International Airport. The Customs Officer at the gate found a jarring note. The man had a Christian name and on verification of the passport, the Customs officer found that the wife also had a Christian name. Why was this Christian lady wearing a purdah? A lady officer was called in to search this Muslim looking Christian lady and it was found that this lady was concealing 426 grams of gold jewellery worth Rs. 12.23 Lakhs under the long sleeves of purdah and scarf.
In her voluntary statement before the Customs, she admitted that she wore the purdah and scarf to conceal the gold ornaments, which she had worn to avoid detection and payment of duty. Customs Deputy Commissioner Nasser Khan informs that the gold was seized and a case registered.