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Gold seizure doubles at Mumbai's international airport

The official said that gold from these countries is in pure form and not adulterated.

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The number of gold smuggling cases at the city's international airport has seen an over two-fold jump in 2017-18 vis-à-vis last year. According to Mumbai Customs' Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), they have seized 443 kilograms (kg) gold worth Rs 117.8 crore in a total of 907 cases in 2017-18. The total seizure in 2016-17 was 168 kg of gold worth Rs 45.6 crore from 301 cases. Out of the 443 kg gold, 166 kg of gold was seized between January and March 2017 alone.

Apart from the yellow metal, AIU officials also seized 25-carat diamonds worth Rs 3.5 crore along with 3 kg of assorted diamonds. According to AIU officials, the increase in gold smuggling has increased due to their vigilance, mainly on passengers coming from Dubai, Riyadh, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Korea and Bangkok. "There are several jewellers and other businessmen who hire carriers to bring the gold in the country from these places to make profits," said an AIU official.

The official said that gold from these countries is in pure form and not adulterated.

Foreigners' involvement in the gold smuggling is increasing and last year the AIU had apprehended 38 foreigners for smuggling gold. The official cited recent case wherein a South Korean national carried 15 kg gold on his body.

The recent trend in smuggling the gold is, carrying gold in a paste form instead of the gold bars or jewellery.

Elaborating further, the officials said that the smugglers mix gold dust with sand and wax. They pack it in plastic pouches and disguise them as crepe bandages which the smugglers wrap around their hand, waist and legs. "They do this to evade from getting detected by the metal detectors at the airport.12 such cases were found recently. This is a new challenge for us as detecting such cases is totally depending upon the human intelligence of our personnel," said an AIU official.

Gold Smuggling

The total value of gold seized at airport in 2016-17:  Rs 72.1 crore 
Number of cases: 1,217
The total value of gold seized at airport in 2017-18: Rs 169.6 crore 
Number of cases: 1,827

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