Nagpur: Customs authorities at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur have seized nearly 15kg of smuggled gold worth over ₹9 crore from passengers arriving on international flights from Sharjah and Doha over the past three-and-a-half years, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by city-based activist Abhay Kolharkar.The data, covering the period from January 2023 to July 2026, shows that gold was the most smuggled commodity intercepted at the airport. Customs officials also arrested seven persons in connection with gold smuggling during the period.Industry sources estimate that the quantity of gold seized is equivalent to nearly 40% of Nagpur’s daily consumption of precious metals. Gold currently attracts a customs duty of 15%.Saffron emerged as the second most frequently seized smuggled item. Customs officials confiscated around 8kg of the spice, valued at ₹17.5 lakh. Though small in quantity compared to gold, saffron is among the world’s costliest spices and attracts customs duty of over 40%, a measure aimed at protecting domestic production, largely concentrated in Kashmir.The RTI reply further revealed that customs officers seized 45 mobile phones worth ₹42 lakh and seven watches valued at ₹3 lakh during the period.Jewellery industry representatives attribute the persistence of gold smuggling to the high duty on imports. Gems and Jewellery Council (GJC) president Rajesh Rokde said the industry would once again press for a reduction in customs duty.“It is high time the duty structure is reviewed. The current account deficit is no longer a major concern. Lower duties would help boost exports and attract international buyers to India, much like Dubai has done. The jewellery industry is also a significant source of employment,” Rokde said.Sources in the trade said while land routes through Bangladesh and Nepal are often used for cross-border smuggling, air passengers arriving from Gulf countries remain an important channel for illegal gold inflows. Smuggled gold, which remains outside the formal trading system, is estimated to be around ₹5,000 cheaper per 10 grams than legally imported metal, making it attractive to buyers and traders alike.
