Three Passengers Arrested by Airport Customs After Trying to Smuggle 3.7 Kilograms of Gold in Their Trousers

Gold illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Kotivalo)

JAKARTA - Customs authorities in India have succeeded in thwarting an attempt to smuggle gold from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) hidden in trousers.

Indian Customs said that the gold that had been seized was worth more than 230,000 United States dollars or around IDR 3,572,498,000 which was hidden in the waistband of passengers who arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on a flight from Duba.

"Authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport arrested three passengers based on their security profile," said Delhi Customs on social media, reported by The National News, November 23.

In a post on social media, Delhi Customs also shared a short video showing the moment airport officials opened their trousers and found gold bars weighing 3.7 kilograms of gold.

Customs added that investigations were continuing after the passengers were arrested under the Customs Act.

"The passengers have been arrested under the Customs Act of 1962. Further investigations are underway," wrote customs on social media X.

Earlier, two passengers were arrested at Mohali Airport by Ludhiana Customs who were also trying to smuggle gold into India from Dubai on November 17.

From the two passengers, customs confiscated five gold bracelets weighing 750 grams which were estimated to be worth around USD 50,000 or the equivalent of IDR 776,630,000.

Confiscation of gold from passengers arriving from Dubai at Indian airports is a frequent occurrence. Various methods are used to hide commodities to avoid paying duties and taxes.

Clothing is the most common place, but some reports also say passengers hide the precious metal in suitcases, kitchen utensils, drink containers and even under wigs and false teeth.

While there is no limit to the amount of gold that can be exported from the UAE duty-free, India imposes a levy of 15 percent on the value brought into the country.

This includes import duties of 10 percent and taxes on Agricultural Infrastructure and Development Permits of five percent.

Men can bring 20 grams of gold tax-free into the country, while women can bring 40 grams of gold without paying import duties.