Customs officials say they have already witnessed 500 attempts to smuggle in gold, and are well on track to overtake the previous yearly record of 1,000 interceptions of smugglers
Instances of gold smugglers getting caught at the Mumbai international airport are set to soar to a new high this year. The Air Intelligence Unit of Customs has registered 500 cases of gold seizures in the past six months i.e. from January to June. This rate is well ahead of the previous record haul which was seen more than 15 years ago.
Officials said they have seized 535 kg of gold in half a year — 323 kg being seized just between April and June. They are confident that the number of cases will surpass the previous annual record of 800 kg, which was seen in 1988-89.
Officers responsible for the seizure of the 323 kg will be given a letter of appreciation for their efforts. “Intercepting such a big amount is a huge achievement. Last year, from April to June, only 55 kg of gold was taken into custody. This year, it is nearly six times that number,” said a senior Customs official, adding that the number of cases could cross 1,000.
Milind Lanjewar, additional commissioner, Customs, told mid-day, “We are sure that that smuggling will continue, there has been no decrease in the cost of gold in the budget presented by the government on Thursday.”
Where the gold is stashed
>> Car speakers
>> Shoes|
>> Chocolates
>> Coffee powder
>> Inside the rectum
>> Inside the mouth
>> Beneath the flight carpet
>> Bra hooks
>> Washrooms in planes
>> Shirt Buttons
>> Watch dials
Gold rush
>> On March 24 in the wee hours, AIU intercepted a family of seven, holding Mauritian passports, which had arrived in the city from Bangkok. They were caught with approximately 4.9 kg of gold, comprising 37 crude bangles and five crude kadas.
