Panaji/Vasco: Continuing to crack down on attempts to smuggle gold through Goa International Airport, the commissionerate of customs on Friday foiled an attempt by unknown individuals to smuggle 11 gold bars worth Rs 34.74 lakh. The gold was found during routine inspection of Air India flight AI-994 under a seat and marks the second gold seizure in less than a week.Customs sleuths had confiscated gold worth Rs 8.68 lakh on the same Dubai-Goa flight on April 23.While the investigation is on, customs officials have not been able to identify the culprit. The passenger under whose seat the gold bars were found claimed ignorance about the smuggled gold."The man had a ticket to Bengaluru and he was not supposed to disembark at Goa. Though it was under his seat, we have called it abandoned because we did not find it on his person. We informed customs officials at Bengaluru and his bags were checked there but nothing was found," commissioner of central excise and customs K Anpazhakan said.In April itself, gold worth Rs 66.24 lakh, weighing 2.4kg was seized at Goa International Airport."While performing duties during the arrival of Air India flight AI 994, officers of the Air Intelligence unit of Goa customs rummaged the aircraft and found a small packet wrapped with black adhesive tape containing 11 gold bars weighing 1,280g," a customs official said.Under Section 110 and 111 of the Customs Act which allows customs officials to seize the gold, the smuggled yellow metal has been attached by the department. "Further investigation is in progress. This is the seventh seizure by Goa customs in April 2017," an official said.According to the officials, the air intelligence unit has seized, totally, gold weighing 2.4kg and valued at Rs 66.24 lakh along with foreign and Indian currency equivalent to Rs 40.26 lakh.

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