Smuggled Gold Seizure at Airports Hit New Peak

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The seizure of smuggled gold at airports in the South Indian state of Kerala registered notable surge in 2019-’20. The illegal trade is feared to flourish further upon resumption of passenger service flights, following the nation-wide lockdown period.

The Customs officials stated that a total of 540.37 kilograms of gold were seized during 2019-’20 across various airports in the state, despite heightened vigil by authorities. The value of seized gold totalled nearly Rs.187 crores. A total of 802 cases were reported in the state during the year. The quantity of seized gold more than doubled when compared with 251 kilograms seized during the previous year.

The highest number of gold smuggling cases was reported at the Kozhikode International Airport, which saw 232.2 kilograms of gold seized in the last fiscal. A total of 465 gold smuggling cases involving hundreds of passengers were reported. The recently commissioned Kannur International Airport too recorded substantial surge in smuggling. A total of 47.1 kilograms of smuggled gold worth around Rs.17 crores were seized in many as 64 gold smuggling cases.

Sumit Kumar, Commissioner, Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Kochi called for installation of more number of X-ray scanners and advanced machines including full-body scanner at airports to effectively contain smuggling of materials including gold through airports.

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