Delhi: American national of Indian origin held at IGI Airport with 115 gold bars hidden in specially designed belt
It was stated that the value of the seized items was over 5.5 million lira.
The suspect arrived in New Delhi from San Francisco on Air India flight AI-4174 and was caught when he tried to pass through the Green Channel without declaring contraband.
The intervention was based on risk-based profiling of passengers, after which customs officials launched a covert watch at the international arrival terminal.
An extensive personal search of the passenger and his luggage in the presence of independent witnesses revealed gold bars concealed in a specially designed belt along with secret pockets sewn into the inner lining of his trousers. The recovered gold bullion is 24 carat pure and 999.9 purity.
The smuggled goods were seized under Article 110 of the Customs Law of 1962 and the passenger was arrested under Article 104 of the same Law. Further research is ongoing.
Senior customs officials monitoring the smuggling flow said the seizure was directly linked to the sharp increase in smuggling attempts observed last week. The recent increase in customs duties on gold from 6 percent to 15 percent has significantly expanded the profit margins of international smuggling organizations, leading them to use increasingly sophisticated concealment techniques.
“With the profit margin per kilogram increasing rapidly, international unions appear to be showing increasing desperation,” a senior official said, adding that the trend was being closely monitored.
In response to the evolving threat, the Customs Department has increased its tactical operations at international airports.
The Ministry is now integrating real-time passenger data analytics, advanced risk profiling tools and advanced physical screening measures to counter the growing threat of gold smuggling.
The AIU will continue to maintain an intense vigil at all international arrival terminals to neutralize such economic threats, officials said.
