Dabolim: Drugs may not be the only contraband to find favour in Goa now. A rising pan-India trend of gold smuggling and sudden seizures of the yellow metal in Goa, otherwise a narcotics haven, has forced customs authorities in the state to step up vigil not only at the lone airport, but also on the sea routes to stop gold smugglers.
Earlier this week, there were three seizures at the Dabolim International Airport when two Sri Lankans and an Indian were caught with 4.12 kgs of gold valued at Rs.1.33 crore ($13 million) in the Indian market. "This seems to be the beginning of a new trend. Our air intelligence staff and air customs officers could retrieve the gold and seize it. This is so far the biggest seizure," Commissioner Customs and Central Excise VPC Rao told IANS. Gold smuggling, he said, has become a regular feature at the Goa airport.
The two Sri Lankans had boarded the flight as domestic passengers at Mumbai, but they had taken delivery of the gold from some passengers coming from Dubai, he said. "The gold was stuffed in their rectums. When they were passing through the green channel, our official saw something unusual with their movement. That is how they were busted," a Customs official said. The Indian was from Kerala and had the gold strapped on his body under his trouser.
25/08/13 IANS/Daily News & Analysis
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Earlier this week, there were three seizures at the Dabolim International Airport when two Sri Lankans and an Indian were caught with 4.12 kgs of gold valued at Rs.1.33 crore ($13 million) in the Indian market. "This seems to be the beginning of a new trend. Our air intelligence staff and air customs officers could retrieve the gold and seize it. This is so far the biggest seizure," Commissioner Customs and Central Excise VPC Rao told IANS. Gold smuggling, he said, has become a regular feature at the Goa airport.
The two Sri Lankans had boarded the flight as domestic passengers at Mumbai, but they had taken delivery of the gold from some passengers coming from Dubai, he said. "The gold was stuffed in their rectums. When they were passing through the green channel, our official saw something unusual with their movement. That is how they were busted," a Customs official said. The Indian was from Kerala and had the gold strapped on his body under his trouser.
25/08/13 IANS/Daily News & Analysis
