Mangaluru, Apr 18: Air Customs officials at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on Sunday seized 504 grams of gold worth Rs 24.44 lakh from a passenger from Dubai.

The accused passenger, identified as Aboobakar Siddiq Pulikoor Mohammed of Kasaragod in Kerala, disembarked the Air India Express flight IX 384 coming from Dubai in the early hours of Sunday.

The passenger tried to smuggle gold by concealing it in his worn socks, a Customs release here said.

Further investigation and proceedings in accordance with the law is under progress.

A surveillance team led by customs deputy commissioner Kapil Gade profiled and intercepted the passenger soon after he disembarked the flight.

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Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.

The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.

However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.

Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.

They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.