Lok Sabha Question No. 28 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Gold Smuggling Cases
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Anto  Antony, N.K. Premachandran, Dean Kuriakose

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue *****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.28

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 BHADRAPADA 23, 1942 (SAKA)

## GOLD SMUGGLING CASES

28. SHRI ANTO ANTONY: SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN: ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it has come to the notice of the Government/ Enforcement Directorate/ Customs that Gold smuggling  through  various  airports  in  the  country  including  Kerala  airports  is  increasing  and  has adversely affected the economic stability of the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  such  cases  of  gold  smuggling  reported  from  various  airports  of  the  country including kerala airports during the last five years and the current year, year-wise along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) the details of gold seized from various airports including kerala airports and the number of people booked during the said period along with the value/price involved therein;
- (d) whether it has also come to the notice of the Government that gold smuggling is carried out through the diplomatic channel and if so, the details of involvement of diplomatic persons therein along with the action taken in this regard;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  entrusted  agencies  for  the  investigation  of  gold  smuggling  in Thiruvananthapuram air cargo through diplomatic channel and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the investigation agencies reported to the Court that the accused in the gold smuggling are highly influential and if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives taken by the Government for fair and proper investigation?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) to (f): The year-wise number of cases of gold smuggling through various airports along with the quantum of gold seized, number of people booked and the value of gold seized can be seen from the following table:

| Year     |   Number of Cases of Smuggling of Gold at various Airports |   Quantum of Gold Seized (in Kg.) |   Number of people booked |   Value of Gold seized (Rs. In Lakhs) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2015-16  |                                                       2696 |                          2452.15  |                      1408 |                              60667.3  |
| 2016-17  |                                                       1453 |                           921.805 |                       788 |                              24375.6  |
| 2017-18  |                                                       2911 |                          1996.93  |                      1525 |                              53133.3  |
| 2018-19  |                                                       4855 |                          2946.1   |                      2141 |                              83354.9  |
| 2019-20  |                                                       4444 |                          2629.55  |                      2339 |                              85795.5  |
| 2020-21* |                                                        196 |                           103.165 |                       200 |                               4955.57 |

* upto August, 2020

During July 2020, the Office of the Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Cochin, informed the Ministry  of  External  Affairs  (MEA)  of  the  suspicion  of  gold  consignment  in  a  Diplomatic  bag. Following  due  procedure,  MEA  provided  clearance  to  Customs  authorities  to  intercept  the consignment containing gold which was addressed to a diplomat of Consulate General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram.  Customs  authorities  and  NIA  have  launched  the  investigation  and  the department of Custom has seized 30,244.900 gram of Gold and booked case under Customs Law and arrested 16 persons. Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has also initiated Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) investigations in two Gold Smuggling cases related to Kerala. ED has also taken up investigation in five cases under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 all over India.

It was reported to the court that one of the prime accused was influential; however Government is taking effective steps for fair and proper investigation. Disclosure of further details of cases may not be in a larger public interest as the same may impact the cases.

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