Visakhapatnam:Stature comes with a price. The Visakhapatnam airport, which was accorded international airport status two years ago has reported a spurt in gold smuggling with the increase in international operations. Starting with a single flight to Dubai two years ago, the Port City now witnesses 13 international operations a week. But it seems with more international operations gold smugglers are finding a favourable destination in Visakhapatnam. During the last nine months, the customs officials have seized over 13.5 kgs of gold and arrested 13 persons while attempting to sneak in gold bars. According to the customs sources, incidence of gold smuggling has tripled during the last two years after the Union government raised the import duty on the yellow metal to 10 per cent.
Earlier, when the import duty was 2 per cent, the air passengers used to bring gold from abroad legally by paying the import duty. However, as the import duty was hiked steeply, there was a spurt in gold smuggling. After Vizag got air connectivity to Dubai smugglers found a favourable destination in the Port City as it was not a busy airport.
07/05/15 VK Lakshmi Gayatri/New Indian Express
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Earlier, when the import duty was 2 per cent, the air passengers used to bring gold from abroad legally by paying the import duty. However, as the import duty was hiked steeply, there was a spurt in gold smuggling. After Vizag got air connectivity to Dubai smugglers found a favourable destination in the Port City as it was not a busy airport.
07/05/15 VK Lakshmi Gayatri/New Indian Express
