KOCHI:With cases related to gold smuggling from Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Nedumbassery, touching new heights during the last four months, the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs is adopting new techniques to curb the illegal act.
As per the data provided by the Customs, 127 cases of gold smuggling have been registered from April 1 to July 25. As many as 45.12 kgs of gold have been seized during the same period. The value of the seized gold is worth Rs 11.28 crores and the number of cases as reached more the 50 per cent of cases registered in the entire financial year 2017-2018.
During last fiscal, 87 kg worth Rs 26.97 crores of gold were seized from CIAL. As many as 254 cases were registered.The highest number of gold were recovered in the month of June as 15. 816 kg of gold seized. On April, 10. 56 kg and in May 8.3 5 kg of gold was recovered. This month till 25th, 10. 362 kg was recovered.
“The smugglers are always trying to adopt new methods to beat the enforcement agencies. They expertly conceal gold in body or baggage. But we also have adopted new measures to monitor and detect the cases,” Sumit Kumar, Customs Commissioner said.
The Customs Department has started passenger profiling to monitor frequent travellers who act as carriers for gold smuggling cartels. “We have sharpened the intelligence gathering system and adopting new measures. Passenger profiling is one such technique. While checking the passports, we monitor the passengers who are frequently flying abroad in short duration. In recent times, when scanners could not trace contraband, using personal profiling we could nab numerous carriers,” Sumit Kumar said.
Another headache for the customs is the arrival of gold in paste form. In the last four months, the customs could recover 9 kg of gold smuggled in paste form in the first four months of this fiscal. As many as 15 cases were registered i the current fiscal. The paste form gold is hidden in jackets and handbags. The gold is converted in paste form with the assistance of experts.
Other than gold, a number of currency seizure cases are also reported in the first four months of the current fiscal. As many as three cases in which Rs 12. 50 crores worth of foreign currencies were recovered from April 1 to July 25.
Besides, a case in which smuggling of Indian currency worth 6 lakh was also busted at CIAL.
“The foreign currency smuggling is associated with gold smuggling activities. When gold is smuggled from abroad, the money for it smuggled to foreign countries through such illegal channels. On some occasions, the high-tech scanner installed at CIAL helps. When the currencies are not detected through scanners, we nab the person through personal profiling,” a Customs officer said.
Gold Smuggling
As per the data provided by customs, 127 cases of gold smugglings have been registered from April 1 to July 25. 45.12 kgs of gold have been seized during the same period.