Saturday, July 04, 2015

Enforcers anticipate surge in gold smuggling this Onam

Thiruvananthapuram: Customs enforcers anticipate a surge in gold smuggling in the run-up to Onam this year.

In a bid to staunch the inflow of contraband gold prior to Kerala’s marriage and shopping season, the agency has urged the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to issue its agents security passes that grant full access to all areas in airports in Kerala.

Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) K.N. Raghavan recently told members of various airport security committees that limiting the access of his agents to specific quarters in airports could imperil anti-smuggling operations.

Kerala has a big market for gold. Smuggling bullion into the State had turned appealingly lucrative after the Union government hiked the import duty on gold to tackle the country’s yawning current account deficit. Gulf-based gold smugglers actively recruited low-paid baggage handlers and corrupt airport staff to achieve operational success. Smugglers routinely stowed away contraband gold in aircraft closets, beneath seats or inside cabin panels to be collected by their airport-collaborators. Toilets, aerobridges and “ferry buses” were the usual drop points.
04/07/15 G. Anand/The Hindu
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