Two individuals from Dubai were apprehended at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for purportedly trafficking 1430 grams of gold, as per Delhi Customs. The Indian nationals were detained under the Customs Act, 1962, and the confiscated gold is estimated to be worth Rs. 91.44 lakh (nearly Dh 403,374). The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
In a separate incident on May 27, Delhi Customs seized 2814 grams of gold valued at Rs. 1.92 crore (Dh 846,962) from five Uzbekistan nationals who had arrived from Dubai via Mumbai. These passengers have also been taken into custody.
The World Gold Council (WGC) reported a 33% increase in gold smuggling in India, amounting to 160 tonnes in 2022, primarily attributed to the hike in import duty from 7.5% to 12.5%.
