Developer caught smuggling Rs 21 lakh gold

With Diwali and marriage season in full swing and gold prices soaring, the customs has sharpened focus on those evading duty on the yellow metal.

With Diwali and marriage season in full swing and gold prices soaring, the customs has sharpened focus on those evading duty on the yellow metal.

A similar close watch on Saturday led the airport customs to a builder who was carrying gold ornaments worth Rs 21 lakh.

HT Image

Amol Ferreira, who arrived from Dubai at 3am on an Emirates flight, was intercepted by a customs batch headed by deputy commissioner Sameer Wankhede while he was crossing the green channel without declaring the ornaments.

Only passengers who do not have anything to declare can walk through the green channel.

Ferreira, who was arrested and produced before a local magistrate’s court, was released on bail of Rs2 lakh. “A recent Supreme Court order says offences under Customs Act are bailable,” said advocate Ravi Hirani who handles customs cases.

Advocate Keval Barsagde who represented Ferreira said that his client brought the gold ornaments for his family and they were not for smuggling.

The authorities got suspicious as Ferreira was looking nervous while crossing the green channel. He also did not put his handbag in the screening machine.
Gold costs around Rs500 per 10 gram less in Dubai and duty on gold is Rs 750 per 10 gm.