TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Apprehending resurgence of gold smuggling by sea and air routes, the Customs and Central Excise has restarted patrolling the State’s 105 km coastline and deployed additional staff in the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Dabolim airport.
The shore patrolling unit called ‘Shore Guard Parities’ is expected to become operational by September 1.
“There is an apprehension that smuggling via sea route may be revived because of the huge difference in domestic and international prices of gold in the Middle East. Keeping these factors in view, we have taken the additional security measures to tackle the menace not only by sea but also air and land,” Commissioner VPC Rao told a press conference Wednesday.
Goa was famous for smuggling of gold in the 70s and 80s when it was brought to the State’s shores and later taken to various parts of the country by road.
The Customs sleuths had arrested three persons Mohd Hamza and Mohd Safraz, both from Sri Lanka and Pallikal Ibrahim, a native of Kerala and seized 4.129 kg gold valued at Rs 1.33 crore in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Rao said that the Sri Lankan carriers had concealed the gold in their rectums, while the other had strapped it on his body under the trousers.
“AIU and air customs officers could retrieve the gold from the accused after they were subjected to metal detector screening,” he said claiming it to be the biggest seizure so far.
Since January this year, the Central agency has detected 10 cases of gold smuggling valued at an estimated Rs 2.66 crore. A total of 15 persons were arrested in these cases.
The seizures coincide with the rise in gold prices in India and increased rate of duty on gold imports. Rao said the Commissionerate is geared up to face the challenge against the increasing trend of gold smuggling.
The Commissionerate has
already got marine formation with five Speed Boats for sea patrolling.
The ports were also a crucial place of smuggling. Rao while responding to a question said they have managed to identify the modus operandi of the smugglers, who usually arrive from Dubai to Goa via Mumbai.
“On the way, they pass on the gold to domestic passenger who usually acts as carriers. The checking for domestic passengers is not strict…,” he said.
“Goa is connected to Middle East with flights coming from Sharjah, Dubai and Doha. Most of the seizures are detected in Dubai-Goa Air India flights coming either via Mumbai or directly. International passengers from Bangkok also board the flight from Dubai to Goa via Mumbai. Most of these flights fly on Tuesdays,” he added terming it as ‘disturbing trend’.
He said the gold smuggled is largely meant for Mumbai and Kerala.
“Since it is cheaper to fly to Goa than to Kerala, the carriers land here and thereafter travel further,” the officer commented.
In the case that was booked Tuesday, the carriers had accepted the gold from passengers arriving from Dubai and concealed it in their body.
Rao said they have received inputs from the Intelligence Bureau about possible involvement of Sri Lankans in gold smuggling.
“This case is an eye opener for us. We are keeping a track on them and other suspects,” he said.
