AMRITSAR: The lure of significant returns and the high demand for gold have resulted in a nearly twofold increase in gold smuggling from Gulf countries to Punjab even as the smuggling kingpins have now begun recruiting couriers or low-wage workers including women from these countries to smuggle the yellow metal into Punjab in exchange for meagre compensation.Joginder Singh, Joint Commissioner, Customs, infomred on Tuesday that the Customs department had seized a total of gold worth Rs 784.49 lakh during the financial year 2022-23 whereas from April onward in the current financial year, they had already seized gold worth Rs 745.55 lakh which indicates at a significant and concerning rise in gold smuggling activities.Primarily, 24K gold is smuggled into Punjab from Sharjah and Dubai, however, there is a growing trend where Malaysia and Bangkok are emerging as new destinations for gold smuggling into Punjab.Mostly, the gold was smuggled into Punjab in the form of cylindrical capsules having gold paste which was concealed in rectum, gold concealed in caps of water bottles, jip lining of jean pants, swallowing of gold coins, hidden in undergarments , on luggage trollies, said Joginder adding that in certain cases they had also found the implication of airlines and airport staff.In the recent past, the customs officials had seized around 4 kg gold being smuggled from Pakistan via Attari international border.Due to the lucrative profitable margins, typically ranging from 8% to 10%, gold smugglers in the Gulf region have resorted to recruiting couriers for the job. In some cases, they even offer free tickets to Indians working in Gulf nations, enticing them into smuggling gold. "Similar to the lines of an adage that left hand doesnt know what the right hand has done, the entire operation is kept highly confidential. Couriers are connected through Apps or social media platforms, and a third person , generally from a third country such as Egypt etc. book and deliver tickets and gold to the courier, giving them specific instructions on how to smuggle. The couriers photograph is sent to the receiver in Punjab or other parts, who then contacts the courier, takes over the delivery, and makes a payment of a paltry sum ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000," said sources.Earlier, anyone smuggling gold above Rs 20 lakh was arrested and gold was seized but in past the Customs department had increased the limit to Rs 50 lakh which has only encouraged the smugglers. Eom

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