The officials said Hussain had packed the red sanders after cutting them into small pieces.
CHENNAI: Police arrested a man at Chennai airport on Saturday for attempting to smuggle red sanders worth 2.5 lakh to Hong Kong. He concealed the contraband in his suitcase.
Based on a tip, immigration officials at the airport intercepted the baggage of Kader Naina Hussain of Natchoor Patinam in Ramanathapuram district. The officials opened his baggage and found red sanders.
The officials said Hussain had packed the red sanders after cutting them into small pieces. He concealed them within his clothes. The red sanders weighed around 29 kg, worth Rs2.5 lakh in the international market.
Customs officials handed Hussain to the Chennai airport police for further investigation. Police said Hussain reached Chennai airport late on Saturday night to board a flight bound for Hong Kong. While scanning his baggage, they discovered him smuggling the red sanders.
The airport police have registered a case and remanded Hussain in judicial custody after producing before a magistrate court in Alandur on Sunday.