Gold smuggling under focus as agencies detect rise in attempts after import duty hike
Gold smuggling has increased at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport following a rise in import duties and domestic prices. Enforcement agencies have noted a shift in organized syndicates towards smuggling gold through air routes, particularly from Gulf countries and Africa. Recent seizures highlight the evolving methods used by smugglers to evade detection.
- ▪The Union government raised import duty on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, prompting a rise in smuggling attempts.
- ▪In May, DRI officials seized 3.5 kg of gold worth over ₹3.45 crore and arrested three individuals at the airport.
- ▪Customs officials have reported similar smuggling patterns across various airports in India after the duty increase.
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Gold has once again come under the radar of enforcement agencies at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, with officers involved in surveillance and interception operations noticing a pattern of rise in smuggling attempts following the recent hike in import duty and surge in domestic prices of the precious metal.Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs said passenger profiling, seizure analysis and interception trends over the past several months indicate a renewed shift by organised syndicates towards smuggling gold through air routes, particularly from Gulf countries and parts of Africa.The trend comes after the Union government increased import duty on gold and silver to 15% from 6% in a move aimed at curbing overseas purchases and reducing pressure…
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