The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued an alert asking Customs officials and airport security personnel to remain on high vigilance for the next four months, citing a spike in gold smuggling incidents at airports.
According to the advisory, recent weeks have seen increased attempts to bring gold illegally into India through airports and seaports from overseas. Intelligence inputs have also cautioned that smuggling networks may intensify operations as the festive season and year-end approach.
CBIC has directed field formations to strengthen surveillance and use advanced scanning equipment while monitoring passenger baggage and belongings. Officials have also been instructed to keep watch on suspicious individuals and take immediate action, including arrests, where warranted.
Board officials noted that demand for gold typically rises during festivals and in the closing months of the year, which smugglers often exploit amid higher passenger movement at airports and ports. They said Customs and airport security units are coordinating closely and that checks will be further tightened in the coming months.
