The Indian Customs caught them with 13kg of gold, more than 200 mobile phones, laptops and cigarettes. The Straits Times learnt that smugglers have been approaching Indian migrant workers flying home via Changi Airport Terminal 1. Gold smuggling in India has seen a spike in seizures and amount discovered in recent years. The World Gold Council said in a report that gold smuggling in India spiked after the import duty of gold was raised in July 2022 to 12.5 per cent from 7.5 per cent. Indian Customs learnt that some of the passengers arrested had been to Gulf countries on “sponsored trips”, and returned with gold hidden in their luggage.

Source: The Star December 18, 2023 08:47 UTC