Air Customs Mangaluru Seized 17.65 kg Gold worth Rs 6.8 Cr in 52 Cases between Apr 2019-Jan 2020
Air Customs Mangaluru Seized 17.65 kg Gold worth Rs 6.8 crore in 52 Cases between April 2019-January 2020 books 52 cases seizing a total of 17.65 Kg of gold, foiling novel methods of smuggling the yellow metal during the current financial year.
Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Customs House Conference Hall, Panambur, Mangaluru, Joannes George, the Joint Commissioner of Customs said, “The Mangalore International Airport is considered to be one of the major entry points for smuggled gold into the country due to its geographical proximity to certain areas in nearby districts which are notorious for its gold smuggling rackets operating out of the said districts. Due to their tight vigil at the Mangalore International Airport, the officers were able to check the activities of smugglers who had come out with novel modus operandi to bring in gold mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia”.
He further said, “During the period from April 2019 to January 2020, the Air Customs at Mangalore has seized yellow metal worth Rs 6.38 Crores from a total of 52 smuggling cases registered. The tightened anti-smuggling activities of the department have resulted in the seizure of 17.65 kg of gold and arresting of 10 offenders. Besides this illicitly possessed Foreign Currency valued at Rs. 33.48 Lakhs were also seized from 7 passengers during the said period. A total of 3529 flights and 537507 passengers were cleared and duty of Rs. 3.59 Crores was collected including fine and penalty collected from the offenders. The Customs also disposed of confiscated gold weighing 23.76 Kgs which fetched Rs 9.54 crore this fiscal year till January 2020”.
“The highlights of string of gold seizures at the Mangalore Airport are the unusual methods adopted by the offender to hide gold which included hiding under wig and even inside rectum as oval-shaped capsules. Other methods of concealment included converting gold into paste and hiding it under the sole and within specially stitched pockets in pants, under wears, inside kneecaps etc. The smugglers have also attempted to get away with the gold by hiding them inside toys, umbrellas, speakers, talcum powders, as metal supporting frame of suitcase, and even as strips within measuring tape. The Commissioner of Customs, Mangaluru, Baswaraj Nalegave, sensitized the Customs officers at Mangalore International Airport, on various modus operandi adopted by the smugglers/carriers directing the officers to step up the vigil to take on the challenges posed by smugglers who are constantly evolving their tactics to hide gold and other contraband using unsuspecting objects” added Joannes George..
Raghavendra -Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Sreenath H V -Superintendent of Customs, and Kapil Kade- Assistant Commissioner at MI Airport were also present during the press meet.
BRIEF ON CASE BOOKED BY AIRPORT OFFICERS TODAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020
The Customs Officers of Airport Team today, 11 February 2020 intercepted a passenger Saifudheen Thekkil Pazhevalappil, aged about 23 years of Kasargod origin, and recovered (after extraction) 24 karat gold of 633 gms valued at Rs.25,57,320/- which was carried by the passenger on person (rectum) and attempted to be smuggled into India. The gold was in the form of paste mixed with gum concealed as 4 capsules in rectum.
Gold in paste form before seizure….
Gold after conversion to 24 karat bar weighing 633 gms worth Rs.25,57,320
The officers based on profiling and detectors, were able to identify the accused, who admitted to the offence. The gold has been seized under Customs Act, 1962 and the passenger has been placed under arrest and produced before the Hon’ble Court which has granted remand custody of the accused up to 25th February 2020.
