Customs Seized 3,000 Kg of Smuggled Gold, Mostly From Airports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Delhi Customs, in reply to a query, stated that over 2,500 gold smuggling cases were recorded during the past eleven years. Most of the cases were registered at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Over 3,000 kilograms of smuggled gold were seized during this period. Also, a total of 1.632 people, including 324 foreign nationals, were arrested in these cases.

According to the information provided by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, the value of gold seized over this period totalled around INR 1,535 crore, as per the gold’s latest market rate.

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The highest volume of gold seizure of 574 kilograms was in 2014-’15, followed by 2015-’16, which recorded seizure of 505 kilograms of smuggled gold. Meantime, the volume declined significantly to almost 85 kilograms in 2020-’21. A total of 84.9 kilograms of gold have been seized during the current fiscal year, until 10^th January, 2022.

Airports in the country have emerged as the major gold smuggling hubs. The Customs Department and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have foiled several attempts. However, such incidents are still rampant in the country, with arrests involving foreign nationals and lady passengers.