Two held for smuggling gold worth Rs 88 lakh at IGIA

Two persons have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valuing about Rs 88 lakh at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.
A man was intercepted by customs officials on Wednesday after his arrival from Dubai. Detailed examination of the baggage of the passenger resulted in recovery of gold strips coated with silver colour metal total weighing 1.02 kg, concealed in the transformer of a music system, a press release issued today by the customs said.
In another case, the customs official recovered foreign origin gold from a passenger who had arrived from Mumbai on Tuesday.

"Detailed examination of the passenger in person resulted in recovery of foreign origin gold, weighing 2.5 kgs having market value of Rs 68.13 lakh concealed in inner pocket of his pant," it said.
Both the passengers were arrested and the gold valuing about Rs 88 lakh was seized.
In a related development, international airports across the country have been put on alert to check gold smuggling which might rise because of forthcoming festivals like Diwali and marriage season.

Customs officials have intensified measures, including minutely scanning suspect passengers and commercial consignments to check smuggling of gold, official sources said.
Gold sales usually go high at the time of Diwali, especially on 'Dhanteras' (that comes two days before Diwali is celebrated) as people consider buying the yellow metal as good omen on this day.

Incidentally cases of gold smuggling have shot up both in the country and in particular at the IGIA. During 2014-15, a total of 230 people were arrested by the customs in 388 cases of gold smuggling. About 596 kgs of gold worth Rs 155 crore was seized in these cases, they said.
Whereas, in 2013-14, about 363 cases were registered in which 353 kgs gold worth Rs 92 crore was seized. A total of 123 people were arrested for smuggling, the sources said.
In April and August this year, the customs officials have arrested 100 people and registered 169 cases. As much as 293 kgs of gold valuing Rs 76 crore was seized in these cases, they said.