Question : Gold Smuggling at IGIA

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there has been an increase in the number of cases of gold and silver smuggling at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA);

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the number of such cases reported during the last three years and the current year;

(c) the action taken against the offenders along with the value of gold and silver seized by the customs department, during the last three years and the current year;

(d) whether the customs officers thwarted three attempts of gold smuggling at the IGIA airport recently, if so, the details thereof;

(e) the total quantity of gold seized in these cases, total number of persons arrested along with action taken against the offenders; and

(f) the corrective steps taken by the Government to prevent the recurrence of such cases in future?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) No.

(b) Nil in view of (a) above.

(c) The details are given as under:

Year Value of Gold Seized at IGIA (Rs. in Lakh) Value of Silver Seized at IGIA (Rs. in Lakh) Action Taken against the Offenders
2014-15 16569.78 0 Whenever necessary, offenders were arrested and penal action were taken against them in terms of Customs Act, 1962.
2015-16 15332.85 0
2016-17 4732.16 13.44
2017-18(upto June, 2017) 1684.25 0

(d & e) On 24.06.2017, 25.06.2017 and 28.06.2017, three (3) cases of gold smuggling were booked and a total of 1.763 Kg of gold was seized. No person was arrested on these occasions and action was taken as per the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

(f) All possible preventive measures are being taken to prevent smuggling of gold like issuance of alert, intelligence gathering, sharing and coordinating with other agencies.
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