Surat: Customs officials at Surat International Airport (SIA) seized 237.66 gm of concealed 24-carat gold worth around Rs 37 lakh during a rummaging operation on an incoming flight from Dubai on Sunday.The seizure was made by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs after Air India Express Flight IX-274 arrived at SIA. During a routine inspection of the aircraft, officers discovered an abandoned black velvet pouch near seat 21B. The pouch contained a kada with a silver-coloured outer coating, which aroused suspicion.The ornament was sent to an authorised valuer for examination. The assessment revealed that the kada had gold concealed beneath its outer layer. Detailed verification confirmed the presence of approximately 238 grams of 24-carat gold, with the net recoverable gold weighing 237.65 grams. The seized gold was valued at nearly Rs 37 lakh.No passenger or crew member came forward to claim ownership of either the pouch or the ornament. Since the gold remained unclaimed, Customs officials seized it under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act..
