Gold smuggled in by Mangalurean via imported Mini Cooper car seized

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 14, 2016

cooper
Mangaluru, Feb 14: The customs investigators in Kerala have seized 7 kg of gold smuggled in a car imported by a native of Mangaluru through Kochi port.

14 crude gold chains of 24 carat, each weighing 500 gm concealed in the fuel tank of the imported Mini Cooper car were seized by the authorities said KN Raghavan, Commissioner, Cochin Customs.

The luxury car was imported under Carnet De Passage — a duty-free car import facility for tourists.

“This suggests that smugglers are patient enough to wait for the contraband to arrive at the destination via ship, a time-consuming operation,” said KN Raghavan. 

According to sources, the car and its contents had been booked in the name of Moideen Kunhi from Puttur, near here.

The official said 25 to 30 cars were imported through the Carnet De Passage scheme on a year-on-year basis in Kochi. Cars imported under the scheme are permitted for use anywhere in India for six months.

The seized Mini Cooper valued around Rs. 25 lakh will also be confiscated under the provision of Customs Act.

Comments

IBRAHIM.HUSSAIN
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

This is the handy work of gold smugglers may not be necessary from Mangalore. Karnataka state is full of Gold merchants as they are 95% from Kerala. Need to know by the public the beneficiary of the Cooper Mini and unearth the gold smugglers.

Yamby
 - 
Sunday, 14 Feb 2016

Cars imported under the scheme are permitted for use anywhere in India for six months....

After six months, what is the status. What to do?

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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