Indian Airport Saw Marginal Decline in Smuggled Gold Seizure During 2018

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The recent statistics published by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) under Mumbai Customs indicates that volumes of seized gold at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport registered marginal decline in 2018, when compared to the year before.

According to AIU figures, the seizure of commodities including gold, foreign currency, narcotics and others totaled 731.85 kilograms in 2018. The value of goods seized totaled INR 188.79 Crores during the year. Also, a total of 1,844 cases were registered for smuggling of goods. The airport also witnessed arrests of 131 Indian national s and 80 foreigners in connection with smuggling of various commodities.

Out of the 1,844 cases registered during the year, 1,233 cases were associated with gold smuggling incidents. The seized gold weighed 521.61 kilograms, worth nearly 145.73 Crores. The airport also registered arrests of 103 Indians and 59 foreign nationals in connection with such incidents.

The installation of ultra-modern scanning devices and alert systems and deployment of more security personnel have resulted in increased seizures. Passengers from Middle East countries were found involved in gold smuggling acts. Also, the seized gold was found to be of highest purity standards, thus making it more valuable in market. The modernized scanning devices have been successful in capturing even minute quantities of gold concealed in different parts of the body and luggage.