Sharp-eyed customs officials have thwarted a scheme to traffic more than two kilogrammes of 24-karat gold melted down and disguised as buckles.

The gold – worth more than GBP 112,785 – was seized from two passengers as they passed through Dubai airport.

Officials say it had been melted and then reshaped into buckles and then fixed onto belts and bags in their luggage.

The passengers, who have not been named, carried the items weighing 2.3 kilogrammes (5 lbs) in their luggage while entering the United Arab Emirates through the Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Customs collected the find in two occasions, with the first one weighing 1.07 kilogrammes (2.36 lbs) and the second one standing at 1.24 kilogrammes (2.73 lbs).

The total find – which the pair had melted in the shape of buckles used for the bags and belts they carried – was estimated at AED 485,700 (GBP 112,785).

Director of Passenger Operations Department Ibrahim Kamali said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “With this Dubai Customs proves again that it stands firm against all the smuggling attempts relying on a team of highly qualified inspectors and very advanced technologies.

“The high sense of security led the inspectors, and as part of their routine work in facilitating customs procedures and monitoring passenger movement, to suspect the passenger’s bag.

“The bag was x-rayed, showing density variation. After a thorough examination, we discovered that all the buckles in the bag are made of pure gold and they were painted in a different colour as a means of camouflage. More investigation led to thwarting the second passenger’s haul.”

Kamali emphasised that customs officers from the Passenger Operations Department undergo specialised training courses, focused on body language assessment and drug types identification.

The director added that investigation of advanced detection devices is also included in the officers’ preparations.

He said: “Smuggling methods vary according to the type of smuggled material, size of the shipment and means of transport. Travellers use a variety of tricks, including hiding their contrabands in secret pockets at the bottom of large bags.

“Some smugglers try to take advantage of the quick and simple customs procedures mistakenly thinking that this would compromise with security, but they are very wrong. There is no compromise whatsoever when it comes to the security and safety of our society and borders.”