KOCHI: Customs seized gold while trying to smuggle it inside a meat cutting machine. A total of 232 grams of gold worth Rs 2.5 crore was seized from Nedumbassery International Airport.

Customs has launched a probe against Thrikkakara Thuruthimel Enterprises, Ernakulam for importing a butcher machine. The gold was sent in their name. Nakul, the driver of the Thrikkakara resident was arrested. Customs also found that the gold was sent by Sirajuddin. Four people were taken into customs custody in the incident. Employees of the enterprise were taken into custody.

The gold was found in a cargo shipment from Dubai. Doubts as to why the machine available in India was brought from abroad led to the seizure of gold.