The launch of iPhone 7 and 7 plus in India is just three days away. But Apple fans in the city don’t seem to like the wait. According to Customs officials, everyday at least three people are detained at international terminal of Ahmedabad Airport for carrying several undeclared iPhones. “These iPhones make it to the grey market where they are sold for as high as Rs 67,000 for a 32GB model,” the official said.
According to the rule, each passenger is allowed to carry two phones. Any more than that has to be declared at the Customs and the passenger has to pay 34% of the bill amount as Custom duty. A Custom official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Every day we catch two-three passengers carrying not less than five iPhones. These passengers are made to pay the customs duty or charged a penalty. In case, the passenger is not able to pay either of them, the phones are confiscated.”
Most of the phones are smuggled in from the US where the new models were launched on September 7 and the delivery started on September 16. Sources say, several people get the phones hand-delivered from the US because they believe they can get the phone cheaper there. The phone retails at $649 (Rs 43, 159) for the 32GB model in the US. “The iPhone 7 (32GB) is available in the black market for Rs 67,000 while the phone will be priced around Rs 60,000 or less in India when it is launched. So, people prefer to get them from the US through a relative/ friend or anyone willing to get it,” source said.
04/10/16 Ahmedabad Mirror
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
According to the rule, each passenger is allowed to carry two phones. Any more than that has to be declared at the Customs and the passenger has to pay 34% of the bill amount as Custom duty. A Custom official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Every day we catch two-three passengers carrying not less than five iPhones. These passengers are made to pay the customs duty or charged a penalty. In case, the passenger is not able to pay either of them, the phones are confiscated.”
Most of the phones are smuggled in from the US where the new models were launched on September 7 and the delivery started on September 16. Sources say, several people get the phones hand-delivered from the US because they believe they can get the phone cheaper there. The phone retails at $649 (Rs 43, 159) for the 32GB model in the US. “The iPhone 7 (32GB) is available in the black market for Rs 67,000 while the phone will be priced around Rs 60,000 or less in India when it is launched. So, people prefer to get them from the US through a relative/ friend or anyone willing to get it,” source said.
04/10/16 Ahmedabad Mirror
0 comments:
Post a Comment