Gold smuggling at Kempegowda International Airport down due to reduced travel

Bengaluru: The slump in air passenger traffic by more than 90 percent at the Kempegowda International Airport has ensured that the smuggling of imported goods has taken a big hit. Statistics furnished by the Customs department for the first four months of this financial year reveals that only two smuggling cases, both involving gold, were reported from March to July. The jewellery being smuggled was valued at  Rs 13.46 lakh.

Smuggling of gold in different forms topped the list.  A senior official said that with passenger traffic crashing to rock bottom, it was inevitable. “Smuggling of narcotic products and gold via one’s person, mainly the rectum, was a daily occurrence earlier. We had a minimum of two cases a day daily and it was such a routine affair. It has come to a standstill now due to poor passenger inflow,” he explained.

Asked if the few domestic and special international flights reported any such malpractices, the official added, “Most international traffic now comprises families who are simply relieved to get back to India.”
Regular international and domestic flights were stopped from March 25 with partial resumption taking place two months later.
31/08/20 New Indian Express

Read More

Local fraudsters go after Kenyans stuck in India with fake air tickets

A group of fraudsters have been contacting Kenyans stuck in India through social media platforms - The suspects have been conning Kenyans with the promise of evacuating them from the Asian nation - They have been selling them fake tickets at exorbitanly high prices The ever opportunistic and timely fraudsters in Nairobi have now decided to expand their territory to international 'markets' specifically targeting Kenyans in India. This became evidential after a number of Kenyans who were stuck in India following lockdown fell prey to a group of fake travel agents selling non-existent air tickets to them.
30/08/20 Erick Kombo Ndubi/Tuko

Read More

The Kerala gold scandal has blown up in the face of the BJP.

Bangalore: A statement attributed to a key accused claims that a pro-BJP television journalist had “requested the help” of the UAE consulate in the state capital to support the party in 2018.
The statement also says the journalist offered the suspect advice to defuse the scandal through the consulate. The purported advice has a striking similarity with a claim made by a Union minister three days later.
The scandal has taken the dramatic turn at a time the Opposition Congress and BJP have been seeking the scalp of chief minister and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan.

On Friday, Anil Nambiar, the coordinating editor of the pro-BJP Janam TV, stepped down, pending an investigation, after the claims made in a handwritten statement attributed to Swapna Suresh became public.

“In 2018, he (Nambiar) invited me for a dinner at Taj Hotel and had a couple of drinks together. He enquired about UAE investments in India and requested the help of consulate to support BJP,” said the statement that Swapna purportedly made before a central agency.

Swapna is under arrest on the charge of helping smugglers bring in gold using “diplomatic baggage” in the name of the UAE consulate. An influential IAS officer in the Kerala chief minister’s office has already been suspended because of his links with Swapna.
The BJP has not yet responded to the specific claim that Nambiar wanted the consulate to help the party. The nature of the help he allegedly sought is not clear.

The UAE enjoys a special relationship with the Narendra Modi government and honoured the Indian Prime Minister with its highest civilian award last year. There had been reports in the western media that Indian security forces had helped capture and return the Dubai ruler’s runaway daughter off Goa in 2018.
29/08/20 K.M. Rakesh/Telegraph

Read More

Gold smuggling case: Customs quizzes journalist, may summon him again

The Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) on Thursday interrogated Anil Nambiar, chief of a Malayalam TV channel, for five hours based on a statement given by gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh. Swapna had said the senior journalist asked her to claim that the controversial consignment seized by the Customs was a “personnel baggage”. The Customs has decided to quiz him again.

Swapna, in her 32-page confession statement, claimed that Anil had contacted her on July 5 when the consignment containing the gold was seized by Customs at Thiruvananthapuram airport. “Anil Nambiar said he was calling me on seeing the news in this regard. He asked me to tell the excellency (UAE diplomat) to release a statement stating that the cargo from which the gold was seized was not a diplomatic baggage but purely a personal baggage. I intimated this to his excellency who knew Anil.

The excellency asked me to tell Anil to draft a letter as required. I called him back and asked him to do so and he agreed,” Swapna said in her statement. However, as she was frantic to protect herself, she was not in a position to follow up the letter, she said. About her association with Anil, Swapna claimed that he was involved in a cheating case in Dubai. He approached Swapna through Sarith P S (another accused) to resolve the matter as he wanted to interview jeweller Atlas Ramachandran. She took it up with the consul-general who cleared it using his influence in Dubai. “Ever since, we have been good friends,” she said. On another occasion, Anil enquired about the UAE’s investments in India and requested the consulate’s support for BJP, she said.
28/08/20 New Indian Express

Read More

Over one kg gold seized, international passenger and receiver arrested in Chennai

Chennai: Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials at the Chennai International airport have arrested a gold smuggler, who flew in from Sharjah, and the receiver who was meant to collect the gold from him. 1.16 Kg gold of 24K purity, worth Rs 64 lakh (87,348USD) was seized under the Customs Act 1962.

Based on intelligence, a special alert was maintained to nab the smuggler who was expected to arrive on an Air India Express flight from Sharjah. On observing a passenger who appeared to be hurriedly rushing towards the exit with a carton box, officials intercepted the individual and checked his belongings. The carton box was found to contain clothes, household items and a toolkit.
However, the toolkit contained an Electric wrench, which was found to be unusually heavy. On dismantling the machine, a black cylindrical piece of metal was found concealed inside. On further examination, it was confirmed that the metal cylinder was painted in black, but made of pure 24K gold and it weighed 1.16kg.

The passenger who carried it was identified as Jahir Hussain, (54) a native of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. He had stated that he was handed over the tool kit by an unknown person at the Sharjah airport, with instructions to hand it over after reaching his quarantine facility, which is not far from the airport.

In a swift operation after getting his swab test done, an AIU team boarded the bus (to the quarantine facility) along with the passenger, with another team following the bus. On reaching the hotel, the passenger contacted the receiver, in order to proceed with the handover. At the time of handover, the receiver and smuggler were arrested. The receiver was identified as Mohammad Asif (33), a Chennai-resident.
28/08/20 Sidharth MP/ZeeNews

Read More

Foreign and Indian currencies worth Rs 1.36 crore seized at Chennai airport, two arrested

Chennai: Customs officials on Thursday seized foreign and Indian currencies worth Rs 1.36 crore from three parcels at international courier terminal at Chennai airport. They arrested two persons in connection with this.
Customs officials acted on specific intelligence that currency was likely to be smuggled out of India through courier mode. Three courier parcels destined for Singapore were intercepted at the international courier terminal.
Two parcels – that were declared to contain saris, shawls and other items -- were taken up for examination. The officials opened one of them and found unfolded saris. White envelopes were found concealed inside the saris. The envelops contained a total of US$50000 equivalent to Rs 37 lakh.
Saris were found inside the other parcel too. White envelopes were found concealed inside five saris. The officials found Saudi Arabian riyals, euros, Swiss franc and Singapore dollars to the tune of Rs 69.5 lakh.

The third parcel was declared to contain shirts and leggings. On opening it, white envelopes were found concealed inside 15 shirts. Rs 2 lakh in the denomination of Rs 2,000 were found inside each envelop. A total Rs 30 lakh Indian notes were recovered.

27/08/20 Sidharth Prabhakar/Times of India

Read More

Gold worth Rs 1.15 crore seized from two passengers at Coimbatore airport

Coimbatore: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 2.6kg of gold, worth Rs 1.15 crore, from two passengers at Coimbatore International Airport. The seized gold was in paste form.
A few weeks ago, the DRI personnel received a tip-off regarding gold smuggling that is to be carried out by a gang based in Dubai through the Coimbatore airport. Since then, DRI officials led by deputy director G Satish were on high alert.
A couple of weeks ago, an Air India Express flight -- that was operated under ‘Vandhe Bharat Mission’ -- from Dubai landed in Coimbatore. While monitoring the passengers, the personnel questioned a couple, who were natives of Palladam in Tirupur district. The couple had completed their immigration, medical and customs formalities, according to officials.
“As their answers were not convincing and appeared nervous, they were subjected to personal searches. The officials recovered three packets that were stitched on to their inner garments. The packets contained 2.6 kg of gold in paste form,” the official said.
26/08/20 Nivedha Selvam/Times of India

Read More

Delhi Airport seizes gold smuggled in mobile phone from Dubai passenger

Customs officials at Delhi Airport have seized gold hidden in the mobile phone of a passenger arriving from Dubai.
The 505 gram gold bar was moulded into the shape of a phone battery.
Officers at the Indian capital's airport detained the passenger who arrived on a Vistara flight on Monday.
An investigation was launched but more details were not revealed.

Gold smuggling is a major issue for India. Authorities in the UAE and India separately launched an investigation into gold smuggling in July after customs officials in India thwarted an attempt to smuggle Dh7 million worth of gold from the UAE to Kerala.

Officers discovered 30kg of gold hidden in aluminium cylindrical locks and placed in a package labelled "foodstuff" alongside a pair of shoes and speakers.

Customs officials in India said the shipment arrived from the UAE through air cargo and was addressed to the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.

The UAE embassy in New Delhi called the incident a "major crime".

Kerala customs officials seized more than a tonne of gold in raids last year.
The precious metal is smuggled in everything from electronics to chocolates.

The goods and services tax on gold in India is 18 per cent, making gold smuggling from the Middle East an attractive risk for some.
25/08/20 National

Read More

1.45 kg gold worth Rs.78.4 lakh seized at Chennai airport

Chennai: Officials of the Air Customs have seized 1.45 kg gold valued at Rs 78.4 lakh from a passenger’s personal goods which had arrived at the Unaccompanied Baggage Terminal from Dubai and arrested the passenger.

Commissioner of Customs, Airport, Rajan Chaudhary, in a release said a passenger, who had arrived from Dubai earlier came for clearance of his personal household goods which had arrived by IndiGo Airlines Flight as unaccompanied baggage.

Acting on a tip off, the officials opened the baggage and found carton boxes, bedspreads and toy boxes among other items in it.

The bedspread was wrapped around a cardboard sheet, which appeared to be unusually heavy.

On tearing the cardboard sheet gold foil wrapped in carbon paper was found concealed in between the two layers of cardboard sheet.

Similarly cardboard sheets were found in all toy boxes as well in which also gold foils wrapped in carbon paper were found concealed inside two cardboard sheets.

In all three bed spreads and seven toy boxes were seized from four carton boxes and a total of 10 gold foils weighing 1.45 kg valued at Rs.78.4 lakhs were seized under Customs Act, 1962.

The passenger belonging to Kallakurichi in Tamilnadu was working as an electrician in Dubai and had lost his job because of Covid-19.  He had returned recently. He was arrested. Further investigation is in progress.
24/08/20 News Today

Read More

146 gms gold worth Rs 7.45 lakh seized from Kozhikode Airport

The Kozhikode Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) seized 146 grams of 24-carat gold, worth Rs 7.45 lakh, and 8,000 sticks of cigarettes worth Rs 32,000 from a passenger who arrived in Kerala from Dubai. On August 23, AIU Calicut also seized 1.699 kg of gold worth Rs 86.69 lakh from a passenger who came by flight SG 9741 from Riyadh.

According to the information released by an official of the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), the gold seized from the latter was concealed inside the battery case of an emergency lamp. The case is being probed further.

Earlier this month, the Air Intelligence Units (AIU) of two airports in Kerala — Calicut and Trivandrum — had seized gold worth lakhs of rupees that was smuggled by five passengers from Gulf countries. While the gold in Thiruvananthapuram was hidden in the frame of passengers’ suitcases in the shape of thin wires, the gold at Calicut airport was being smuggled as gold compounds resembling paste, while the rest was worn as ornaments by the passengers.

Sunday’s seizure comes in the wake of a sensational gold smuggling case that has turned into a political controversy in Kerala. On July 5, the Customs officials seized 30 kilograms of gold worth Rs 13.5 crore from air cargo addressed to an officer of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consulate which was classified as diplomatic baggage from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. 
25/08/20 News Minute

Read More

Gold hunt resumes at Karipur airport; More than two-quarters kilo of gold was seized in two days

Gold hunt resumes at Karipur airport A total of 2.3459 kg of gold was seized from the three on Saturday and Sunday. Air intelligence officials seized 1.699 kg of gold on Sunday night.

TP, a native of Koduvalli, was a passenger on a SpiceJet SG 9741 from Riyadh. The gold was seized from Shafiq. The gold was hidden in the battery of the emergency lamp. It will cost Rs 81 lakh in the market. 146 grams of gold and 9600 cigarettes were seized from another. Ismail Bundichal, a native of Kasargod, was arrested. The gold was smuggled in a jewelery bag and a cigarette luggage bag. Gold is priced at Rs 7 lakh and cigarettes at Rs 38,000.

Gold was also seized in Karipur on Saturday. Half a kilo of gold was seized. Moosa K, a native of Pattikad, Malappuram. Was arrested by Air Intelligence. He arrived on a SG 9711 SpiceJet flight from Jeddah. They tried to smuggle gold in the form of a pipe by attaching an iron plate to the luggage bag. The seized gold would fetch Rs 24 lakh in the market.
Deputy Commissioner Kiran TA and Superintendents KP. Manoj, Sudhir K, Thomas Varghese, Inspectors Ramendra Singh, Minimol VC, Prem Prakash, Yogesh, Sumit Nehra, Naresh, Head Havildar ML. Raveendran was arrested for smuggling.
24/08/20 Prime Time/Rahul Preman

Read More

Probe has to be conducted abroad to unearth all conspirators in gold smuggling case: NIA tells Court

 
Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the sensational gold smuggling case in Kerala has said an investigation has to be conducted abroad to unearth all conspirators in the crime. It has also said steps have been taken for issuing Blue corner notices against four accused currently in UAE through Interpol to secure them for investigation.
"Investigation revealed that the absconding accused Fazil Fareed (A3), Rabins Hameed (A 10), Sidhiqul Akbar (A 15), and Ahammed Kutty (A 20) are in UAE.Therefore, NBW (non-bailable warrant) against them has been obtained from this NIA court.

Steps have been taken for issuing Blue notices against them through Interpol to secure them for investigation," the agency said in a report submitted in the special NIA court here on Friday. A Blue corner notice is issued to locate or obtain information about a person in a criminal investigation.

In the report, the NIA reiterated that the investigation discloses that the accused had earned profit from the offence and proceeds of smuggling could be used for terror funding.

It said the investigation conducted so far revealed that the accused had conspired and sourced gold in large quantities from abroad on multiple occasions earlier and smuggled it through various airports, especially in Kerala.

Investigation has to be conducted abroad and interrogation into roles of high profile individuals and Consulate officials is also necessary to unearth all conspirators in this crime, the NIA said.

It said the accused have used various social media platforms to communicate with co-accused and suspects for committing the offence.

The seized digital devices of the accused have been forwarded to C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram for cyber forensic analysis.

"Investigation had also revealed the larger conspiracy involving influential people both in India and abroad behind this crime and that the racket has already transported bulk quantities of gold from Middle East through diplomatic baggage and sold it clandestinely to various people, with the intention of threatening economic security of India," the NIA said. The NIA submitted the report seeking judicial custody of four arrested accused-- Mohammed Anwar, Hamzath, Samju and Hamjad---in connection with the case.

The court allowed the agency''s plea and sent them to judicial remand yesterday.
22/08/20 PTI/Outlook

Read More

Hidden in cardboard sheets, gold foil worth Rs.78.4 lakh seized at Chennai airport

Based on specific intelligence, Chennai Air Customs seized 1.45 kg gold (in foils) worth USD 1.04lakh (Rs.78.4 lakh) from a passenger’s personal goods.
While the passenger had arrived earlier from Dubai, his personal belongings arrived later at the Unaccompanied Baggage Terminal.
1. Toy boxes, bedspreads, and cartons
Four Carton boxes carrying his personal belongings had arrived at the airport via an Indigo airlines flight as unaccompanied baggage. The carton consented toy boxes and bedspreads among other items.
2. Gold foil wrapped in carbon paper
Officials said that the bedspread was wrapped around a cardboard sheet, which appeared to be unusually heavy. On tearing open the cardboard sheet, gold foil-wrapped in carbon paper was found concealed in between its two layers.
3. Concealed inside cardboard sheets
Similarly, cardboard sheets were found in all toy boxes as well. On tearing open the sheets, gold foils wrapped in carbon paper were found concealed inside two cardboard sheets.
22/08/20 Sidharth.M.P/DNA

Read More

GPB 40,000 Seized From Courier Parcel At Chennai Airport, Consignor Arrested

Chennai: As much as 40,000 British pounds (GBP) worth Rs 38.68 lakhs were recovered from a courier parcel destined to Singapore at the Chennai Airport, the Customs officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the money was concealed inside 25 specially moulded steel plates.
"A courier parcel destined to Singapore was detained at Courier terminal. On examination 40000 GBP worth Rs. 38.64 lakhs were found concealed inside 25 specially moulded steel plates and same seized under the Customs Act r/w FEMA.Consignor arrested," Chennai Customs tweeted.
20/08/20 ANI/Business World

Read More

Chennai airport customs sleuths seize UK currency worth 39 lakh, one held

Chennai: Chennai airport customs officials have seized a huge consignment of foreign currency (Great Britain Pounds-) which was being smuggled out from India through courier, an official release on Thursday said.

Customs said a shipment bound for Singapore was detained at the international courier terminal.

The parcel, a carton box, which was declared to contain tumblers, steel plates, apparel and spices, was taken up for detailed examination. On opening the carton, it was found to contain 25 quarter steel plates along with other declared items. But the plates were unusually heavy and made of high gauge steel. On close examination, it was noticed that the steel plates were made by moulding two separate plates together.

When the moulded plates were cut open, officials found that pound sterling notes were ingeniously concealed inside. A total of 40,000 in denomination of 50 and equivalent to 38.6 lakh were recovered and seized under the Customs Act, 1962.

The consignment was booked by a Chennai based person who has been arrested.
21/08/20 Times of India

Read More

Vijayawada: Conmen cheat jobless youth by offering airline jobs

Vijayawada: A youth, T Ranga Rao found an advertisement of job opportunity in a popular airlines company in the magazine 'The Employment News' and applied for it online. The company executives conducted interview online and confirmed his appointment. Then they issued an identity card and an appointment letter and asked him to report at Vijayawada Airport at Gannavaram to join in the duty. But before going there, he was asked to pay an amount of Rs 8,500 for the uniform and formalities. He promptly paid the amount and went to the airport for joining in the duty.
He was taken aback when he was told by the airport authorities that it was a fake interview and fake appointment letter and actually there were no jobs in the airport. There are number of such youth falling prey to the racketeers who cheat the gullible offering jobs at the airport. Generally, for Rs 8,500 nobody would approach the police with a complaint.
Airport director Madhusudana Rao said that some youths who turn up at the airport return disappointed when they were told that they were cheated. The modus operandi of these crooks is simple. After conducting interview online, they issue an identity card and an appointment letter. Later, they ask the candidate to pay Rs 8,500 for the uniform and shoes.
20/08/20 Hans India

Read More

Delhi Airport Customs seizes nine gold biscuits worth Rs 45 lakh; 7 held

Delhi: The Delhi Airport Customs seized 9 gold biscuits worth Rs 45 lakh from the possession of seven passengers.
As per Delhi Airport Customs, these biscuits weighed around 948 gms, of which, 8 biscuits weighed 116 grams, while one was of 20 grams.
The passengers travelled via flights G8-6242 and G8-6279 with an intention to smuggle gold from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
The gold biscuits have been seized and further investigation is on.
17/08/20 Jitender Sharma/Zee News

Read More

Customs officials seize gold worth Rs 46 lakh at Hyderabad airport

The customs officials of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) have seized 837 grams of gold from four passengers who arrived from Riyadh. The four passengers concealed the gold in their inner pockets and check-in baggage. The worth of gold seized in estimated to be of Rs 45.6 lakh. The officials grew suspicious over the passenger's movement and found the gold in check-in baggage. When they checked the passengers, they found the gold in their pockets.
The airport officials arrested the passengers and sent them for questioning. A case has been registered against them. On July 31, the officials have seized 3.11 kg of gold from 11 passengers who arrived from Daman at Hyderabad airport. They concealed the gold in their inner pockets. The gold worth is estimated to be of Rs 1.66 crore.
15/08/20 Roja Mayabrahma/Hans India

Read More

Kerala gold smuggling case: Customs issue summons to State Protocol Officer

Thiruvananthapuram: In connection with the gold smuggling case, the Customs Department has issued summons to the State Protocol Officer questioning whether any duty exemption certificate was given to the diplomatic baggage that arrived in Thiruvananthapuram Airport for the UAE Consulate.

Confirming that summons has been received, State Protocol Officer B Sunil Kumar told ANI that the department will provide all details which the Customs Department has asked for.

"We have received a notice from Customs. As part of their investigation into gold smuggling case, they wanted to know certain details including whether any duty exemption certificate was given to UAE consulate for the consignment that reached here. They have asked for details which we will be providing," Kumar said.

According to a Customs official, as per the protocol, it is mandatory to take prior approval for consignments above Rs 20 lakh and mandates duty exemption certificate from MEA or State Protocol Officer.

As per the MEA protocol division handbook 2018, "The Customs Duty Exemption Certificates for consignments valued at Rs. 20,00,000/USD 33,000 or less may be submitted along with a Self-Certification and requisite documents directly to the Ministry or the Protocol Department of the State Government for attestation."

It says that the said protocol applies for all "Diplomatic missions, Consular posts offices of UN and its specialised agencies and other accredited international organisations in India."
12/08/20 ANI/TimesNowNews.com

Read More

Kerala gold smuggling case: NIA team in UAE to question key accused

A two-member team of the NIA has reached UAE and started investigation into the offshore leg of the Kerala gold smuggling case.

The NIA team, led by an SP-rank officer, reached UAE on Sunday night and engaged with the authorities there, sharing details of the case, sources said.

The team is there to question Faisal Fareed, a key accused in the case who was detained by UAE authorities after the Customs department apprehended a consignment of 30 kg gold at Thiruvananthapuram airport from a diplomatic baggage from UAE last month.
Sources said the NIA team will also question a few of his associates detained by UAE authorities. The team will also probe financial networks, including hawala channels, that Fareed may have set up between UAE and India to ensure smooth running of the smuggling racket, the sources said.

“The team has just reached there and the two countries have shared details of the case. UAE authorities too have given some information. All aspects of the case are being investigated and all necessary interrogations will be done there,” a senior NIA official said. Notably, NIA has approached the Interpol to issue a Blue Notice against Fareed and is likely to move for his extradition in due course.
11/08/20 Deeptiman Tiwary/Indian Express

Read More