Coimbatore: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized 16.5kg of gold worth about Rs 8.65 crore smuggled through the Coimbatore International Airport from gulf countries last year. Of the 21 passengers arrested, 15 became smugglers as they didn’t have enough money to buy flight tickets to reach India.
“These 15 passengers were either working or travelling with tourist visa in gulf countries. The Covid-19 pandemic forced them to return to India, but they didn’t have enough money to buy tickets. Knowing this, the passengers were approached by gold smugglers who offered to bear their travel expenses if they accepted to carry gold,” a senior official said.
People who visit foreign countries on tourist visa cannot carry gold ornaments into the country. If they stay for more than six months, they can bring a few sovereigns of gold from abroad. However, the carriers floated all the rules and often travelled abroad and returned with smuggled gold.
In 2018, DRI officials arrested 12 people and seized 15.4kg of smuggled gold worth Rs 4.96 crore and six were arrested with 11.2kg smuggled gold worth Rs 4.43 crore in 2019.
22/01/21 A Subburaj/Times of India
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