Kochi, Sunday, October 03, 2010: The police have arrested four persons in connection with the seizure of electronic goods from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) here on Saturday night. The electronic goods were seized from the Airport cargo terminal by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The customs department had earlier informed that they would investigate whether any lapses have been occurred on the official’s side in connection with the seizure of electronic goods at the Nedumbassery airport.

The Chennai wing of the DRI had arrested a person on Wednesday in connection with seizure of electronic goods worth Rs.1.35 crore. The material, brought in as unaccompanied baggage from Singapore to Kochi, consisted of digital cameras, video cameras, phones and watches.

The consignment was being taken to Chennai by road when DRI officials stopped it at the Sriperumbudur toll gate. It was during a follow-up check at CIAL that another consignment worth Rs.1.25 crore was seized. The goods - brand new digital cameras, video cameras and watches - had been brought as unaccompanied baggage from Singapore and had been declared as ”personal effects”, top DRI sources said.

These goods had been brought to Kochi from Singapore and taken by road to Chennai. Customs has also transferred three of its officers attached to the air cargo unit on charges of ”dereliction of duty” following the seizure of electronic goods at Chennai.

It should be suspected that the method of smuggling in electronic goods without proper declaration was being tried out after August, DRI sources said. The passenger who claimed the baggage on Friday and a couple of others were being interrogated. All the consignments were addressed to Chennai, sources said.