Customs officers arrested a 36-year-old passenger arriving from Abu Dhabi after finding smuggled gold concealed in a specially stitched undergarment at Kochi airport. Officials recovered gold paste containing 1,246.23 grams of 24-carat gold and two chains weighing 100.21 grams. The seizure was valued at ₹1.97 crore. Investigators are examining the gold’s source and possible links to a wider smuggling network.