Gold smugglers get creative, hides shipment in microwave transformer

NEW DELHI: Gold smugglers come out with ingenious ways from time to time to conceal their prized items from the watchful eyes of the Customs, be it at the airports or the seaports. However, in one such latest incident, the officers have unearthed a consignment hidden inside a microwave transformer.

This perhaps was the first such attempt to smuggle gold into the country hidden inside the transformer of a microwave.

The precious metal was being shipped in the form of two cylindrical bars hidden inside the transformer. However, the alert officers deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday spotted the items during an inspection.

According to the ANI news agency, the seized items have a market value of Rs 56,69,400. An investigation is currently underway.

Recently, gold smugglers seemed to have shifted their focus to the European nations from traditional Gulf countries, which used to be a preferred route for smuggling of the yellow metal, to avoid suspicion of the Indian customs.

Recent cases of gold seizure show that smugglers are opting for the European route and newer modus operandi, the customs officials said.

It has emerged that there is a strict vigil on passengers coming from Gulf countries to check any attempt of gold smuggling. However, flights coming from the European nations do not see such strict checks.

"There are cases of gold smuggling involving passengers coming from European sector. It means that the smugglers are now opting for this route to bring gold. It is a new trend witnessed by us," a senior customs official had earlier said.

In the period from January to October this year, at least 110 kg of gold, valued at Rs 37 crore, has been seized from smugglers at the IGI airport here, officials said.

The customs officials maintain high vigil at the Delhi airport as it is one of the entry points in the country which registers a maximum number of cases of gold smuggling.