3 Gold seizure cases discovered each week in Karnataka

In Karnataka, at least three gold smuggling incidents are reported on a weekly average by two national organisations that monitor the illegal movement of gold in the nation.

The state experienced roughly 1,600 such occurrences between January 2012 and June 2022, according to data from the Customs department and the directorate of revenue intelligence.

Arrests of smugglers in recent times have shown various techniques to bring in the gold, from concealment in containers like beverage bottles to hiding the precious metal in cakes and sporting equipment.

Officials claim that in order to catch the smugglers, customs and DRI mainly rely on tips from their network of informers, occasionally from inside the gangs through whistleblowers. Nearly all detections are based on prior knowledge, an officer explained, “since we cannot annoy legitimate people and modern ways see smuggled objects passing past ordinary screening infrastructure.”

In Bengaluru, the most popular methods of smuggling are concealing in the rectum, various bodily concealments, in electronic products, and in checked baggage. Gold had been discovered in handgrips and bicycle pedals in Mumbai and Chennai, according to officials. It is hard to inspect all international aircraft since many of them land after midnight and because those from West Asian nations, where gold smuggling is common, are frequently packed, an official told.

Over 28,500 cases were reported nationwide during that time. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs of the finance ministry seized gold worth a total of over Rs.9,661 crore.

Source: Times of India