Customs officials have registered 62 cases this year, while they booked 88 cases in 2019 seizing 58.145 kg of gold valued at ₹19.65 crore from the in-bound passengers. The constant spurt in gold demand in both the Telugu speaking States and neighbouring Karnataka is cited as one of the reasons for constant smuggling of gold through illegal channels. Recently, customs officials apprehended a man who concealed 12 cut pieces of gold weighing 71.47 grams inside the zipper of his jeans. While on Saturday, they booked a woman passenger who attempted to smuggle five gold bars weighing 1.42 kg and other jewellery weighing 583 grams in her baggage. Instances of smuggling gold in Vande Bharat Mission flights was also rampant, the officer added.

Source: The Hindu December 27, 2020 18:30 UTC