Complicated duty laws confuse flyers

Mumbai: Minissha Lamba might be the latest in a long line of celebrities caught carrying undeclared valuables through the airport's green channel, but the infraction is not limited to the glamorous set. Even the common man in India is frequently stumped by the rules on how much cash, jewellery or liquor one is allowed to bring back from abroad or permitted on domestic flights.
There is an upper limit on the currency passengers can take with them when travelling abroad. A flyer can at the most carry $5,000 besides Rs 15,000 in cash; the rest must be in the form of traveller's cheques. When returning, the limit is $5,000 and anything above has to be declared to customs officials.
There are rules on jewellery too. Jewels purchased in India can be taken out of the country free of duty, provided the Indian flyer first gets them evaluated at the Diamond Plaza Clearing Centre. Before flying out, the passenger should declare these valuables to the customs, which in return gives an export certificate.
20/05/11 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Airports May 2011