Gold Smuggling

Smuggled gold seized at airports doubled in FY23, FinMin tells Lok Sabha

Mumbai witnessed 50 per cent growth in gold seized in FY23 compared to the pre-pandemic year of FY20

Air India Express cabin crew held for gold smuggling in Kochi airport

An Air India Express flight cabin crew has been arrested by the Customs for allegedly smuggling over 1.4 kg gold through Cochin International Airport near here, official sources said on Thursday. The crew of Bahrain-Kozhikode-Kochi Air India Express flight was apprehended by the Customs sleuths, who recovered the gold that was wrapped around his hands on Wednesday. Air India Express said the arrested crew has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. The airline said it has zero tolerance for such behaviour and will be taking stern action against the individual including termination of service following receipt of the report from the investigative authorities.

Govt needs to lead and set global agenda on smuggling: Think tank report

The government should take up a campaign against smuggling at the global level and a curb on such practices can help the world earn about USD 31 billion per year, a report said. Eliminating illicit trade would gain governments at least USD 31.3 billion every year, and from 2030 onwards more than 164,000 premature deaths every year would be avoided, the vast majority in middle and low-income countries, the report by Think Change Forum (TCF) said. India being one the biggest consumer of smuggled products, the report said. The country loses a significant amount of revenue every year. So, there is a need for India to take lead on the issue and coordinate at the global forum as the country suffers more on the revenue front than others because it is a consuming nation. As per World Health Organization, governments lose USD 40.5 billion every year in revenue from the illicit trade of tobacco products. To make smuggling an important part of the global narrative, the report said, different

Gulf migrants tapped to smuggle gold, narcotics spike surprise officials

The annual report for 2021-22 released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman goes into granular details of how smuggling has massively diversified

Smuggled gold seizures hit 3-year high; Kerala accounts for maximum cases

Gold seizures by enforcement agencies have hit a three-year high of 3,083 kg in November this year, with Kerala accounting for the maximum cases of smuggled gold seized, Parliament was informed on Monday. Gold seizures across the country have gone up this year when compared to 2,383 kg seized in the 2021 calendar year and 2,154 kg in 2020. In 2019, 3,673 kg of gold was seized. In 2022 (up to November), 3,083.61 kg of gold was seized in 3,588 cases. In Kerala, 690 kg of the yellow metal was seized in 948 cases in 2022, up from 587 kg in 2021 and 406 kg in 2020. In 2019, 725 kg was seized. Besides Kerala, states which account for high gold seizures this year till November 2022 are Maharashtra (474 kg in 484 cases), Tamil Nadu (440 kg in 809 cases) and West Bengal (369 kg in 214 cases). Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the Customs field formations and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) keep constant vigil and take operational measures, such as passenger

India gold seizures hit three-year high after import duty increase

This was the largest amount since 2019, when 3,673 kilograms of gold was seized

ED seizes Rs 2.51 cr worth gold from Malappuram-based jewellery house owner

The ED said on Wednesday that it has seized gold worth Rs 2.51 crore from a "secret" chamber at the premises of a Malappuram-based jewellery house promoter, who is an alleged beneficiary of the Kerala 'gold smuggling through diplomatic bag' case. The federal agency said in a statement that the action has been taken against Aboobacker Pazhedath, the promoter of Malabar Jewellery and Fine Gold Jewellery, both based in Malappuram in Kerala and one of the shareholders of Atlas Gold Super Markets Pvt. Ltd., Kozhikode. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), NIA and Customs department are conducting separate investigations into the racket that was unearthed with the seizure of gold worth Rs 15 crore from the diplomatic baggage of the UAE Consulate at Thiruvananthapuram airport on July 5, 2020. Probe found, the ED said, that "Aboobaker Pazhedath of Malappuram is part of the gold smuggling syndicate headed by Sarith P S, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, under the patronage of IAS officer M ...

Find gold import and smuggling link, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The remarks came against the backdrop of a substantial quantity of gold seized between April last year and March this year

India seized 833 kg gold worth Rs 405 cr in FY22, highest from Myanmar

The highest amount of gold seized was of Myanmar origin, marking a significant shift from 2019-20, when the majority of it was from West Asia

Sri Lanka to check gold smuggling by airline passengers: Minister

Sri Lanka has directed its custom department to take stringent measures to stop gold smuggling into the country by airlines passengers in a bid to prevent illegal business of the yellow metal, according to the nation's minister of state for finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. In a statement issued on Saturday, the finance ministry said that no one would be allowed to wear gold valued over 22 carat. The government has decided to take legal action against those who wear unnecessary amounts of gold jewelry as they fly in with the aim of doing illegal business. Accordingly no one would be allowed to wear gold valued over 22 carats, Siyambalapitiya was quoted as saying in the statement. The customs officials have been instructed to deploy technology to detect gold over 22 carat. A gazette is to be issued this week, the release said. Over 50 kilos of gold are being smuggled into the country by unscrupulous racketeers. Estimated that over 30 million dollars are being lost monthly to the ...

Congress, BJP want FIR to be registered against CPI(M) leaders: Swapna

The sexual assault charges raised by gold smuggling through diplomatic channel case prime accused Swapna Suresh against three prominent leaders of the ruling CPI(M) triggered a political controversy in Kerala on Saturday. Opposition Congress and BJP leaders urged the police to register a case against the trio and asked the Left government to shed its silence over the issue. Suresh, while talking to a TV channel, had alleged on Friday that the leaders -- two former ministers and an ex-Assembly speaker -- had sought sexual favours from her. However, neither the leaders nor the Marxist party reacted to the startling charges so far. KPCC chief K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan said it has been seen in Kerala's history that an FIR gets registered and investigated when such grave allegations are levelled. Pointing out the recent rape and assault cases registered against their party MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly, the Congress leaders also said if a case

Customs on high alert at Tamil Nadu airports over gold smuggling

The Customs and Central Excise are on a high alert in Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi, and Coimbatore airports after the cases of smuggling gold showed an increase

Rs 58.5K cr of taxes lost in 5 industries due to illicit trade: FICCI study

Says 1.5 mn jobs lost because of such trade; FMCG sector worst affected

6 Sudanese nationals arrested with gold worth Rs 5 crore at Mumbai airport

The Customs officials seized 12 kg gold worth Rs 5.4 crore from a group of 23 Sudanese passengers who had arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai from Dubai

Customs officers seize gold worth Rs 11.78 lakh at Mangaluru Airport

Sleuths of Mangaluru Customs have seized 224 gm gold of 24-carat purity valued at Rs 11,78,240 from a male passenger. The man, hailing from Bhatkal, arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) from Dubai by Spicejet flight on Wednesday, a Customs release here said. The gold was extracted from an oval shaped object which was concealed with the precious metal kept in powder form that was tucked away in the passenger's body. Further investigation is in progress.

Kerala CM helped UAE national caught with Thuraya phone escape: Swapna

The prime accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh slammed Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on his role which helped an Egyptian-born UAE national escape the law

Kerala gold smuggling: NIA officers deleted most of evidence, says Suresh

Kerala Gold Smuggling case prime accused Swapna Suresh on Friday alleged that Officers of NIA from Kerala Police deleted most of her evidences

4.33 kg smuggled gold seized at Hyderabad airport, says Customs dept

Smuggled gold weighing a total of over 4 kg was seized at the airport here in two separate incidents, the Customs department said on Friday

Kerala gold smuggling: Suresh accuses Jaleel of anti-national activities

Swapna Suresh, who is the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, said that she has handed over the evidence of the anti-national activities committed by former Minister KT Jaleel

Kerala gold smuggling case: Swapna Suresh accuses CM Vijayan of harassment

Kerala gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh on Thursday alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is "harassing" her because she is trying to bring the truth out