Surat airport bust reveals smugglers' new ‘golden goose': How it happened
The process of creating gold paste begins with melting gold, often sourced from bars, jewellery or mining operations, into a liquid state. This molten gold is then pulverised into fine dust or powder using specialised equipment. Due to its paste-like consistency, it can be packed into small containers, lined within clothing, or even hidden in body cavities.The traditional gold biscuits, or bars, are solid, standardised units of refined gold, typically stamped with purity and weight certifications, making them easily recognisable and traceable. They are rigid, bulky and detectable by metal scanners, posing challenges for smugglers.Gold paste, by contrast, is non-metallic in appearance due to its binding agents, which can mask its presence from conventional X-ray machines. While biscuits are ready for immediate trade or investment, gold paste requires further processing to extract pure gold, adding a layer of complexity but also discretion.Gold paste is primarily used to bypass customs duties, which result in 20 per cent increase in the price of the metal, and import restrictions, driven by India's high demand for gold and steep import tariffs. Once smuggled, the paste is processed to extract pure gold for sale in jewellery markets or to fund illicit activities such as hawala transactions.Extraction involves heating the paste to burn off organic binders, leaving behind gold particles. These are then chemically treated—often with acids like aqua regia—to dissolve impurities, followed by precipitation and smelting to yield pure gold. The process, while straightforward, requires expertise to ensure minimal loss of the precious metal.The value of gold paste lies in its pure gold content, which in the Surat case was estimated to yield over 20 kg of pure gold, worth around Rs 25 crore in the Indian market.advertisementIn a 2024 incident at Surat airport, a woman was found to have hidden 550 g of gold paste in her rectum. At airports, paste evades metal detectors due to its non-metallic binders, detection then reliant on behavioural profiling or specific tip-offs.Gold smuggling has long been a global issue, with India a prime destination due to its cultural affinity for gold and high import duties. In January 2024, a Bengaluru couple was caught at the Kempegowda International Airport smuggling 3.8 kg of gold paste worth Rs 1.9 crore, hidden in padded undergarments, using their children as a cover.In May 2024, Tamil Nadu smugglers were busted with 10.3 kg of gold paste worth Rs 7.75 crore, concealed in clothing. Internationally, Sudanese syndicates have been active, with 18 women arrested in Mumbai in 2019 for smuggling gold paste worth Rs 10 crore each. A 2024 Reuters report highlighted barter smuggling at the India-Bangladesh border, where gold was hidden in sugar and onion shipments.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
39 minutes ago
- NDTV
Mumbai Woman's Morphed Nude Photos Sent To Family Despite Loan Repayment
Mumbai: A 25-year-old woman in Mumbai was allegedly harassed by a loan app firm and her morphed nude photographs were shared with her relatives and friends, even as she handed over an amount of money that was more than what she borrowed. According to the police, the victim from Kranti Nagar area in Jogeshwari West said she was in need of money when she came across an advertisement of a mobile app called "Cash Loan" on Instagram. On July 20, she downloaded the app and shared all her personal information and details pertaining to her Aadhaar card and bank account as part of the formalities. The woman, the police added, applied for a loan of Rs 2,000 but received only Rs 1,300 for a period of six days. However, even before the loan period could end, the woman allegedly started receiving threats from a person who introduced himself as an employee of the loan firm. The caller, she told the police, threatened to share obscene photos of her on social media if she did not immediately return the money. Out of fear, the woman sent Rs 1,000 twice to a person named "Sandesh Kumar" via a payment app. However, an hour later, the woman's aunt called her to inform her that she had received a morphed nude photograph of the woman on WhatsApp by an unknown sender. Within minutes, the same photograph was allegedly shared with two of the woman's friends from the same number. Not knowing what to do, the woman approached her father, who then approached the police for help. The accused allegedly threatened to tarnish the woman's reputation, the police said, citing the victim's complaint. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered and a probe is underway.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Case against cop for cutting tree for Rahul's protest
BENGALURU: The BBMP has filed a complaint against a police constable for removing a tree from the Freedom Park premises allegedly for better surveillance during the Congress protest to be led by Rahul Gandhi on August 5. According to the BBMP Forest Division, the official against whom they have registered the FIR on Friday for the forest-related offence is identified as Mahadev Swamy, a head constable attached to Upparpet Police Station. 'The police officials are responsible for security and other arrangements, and hence, to make the field clear, an Indian bird cherry tree was cut, and the official was seen directing the workers to cut. The Forest Department has registered the case under Section 8 of the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act 1976, and it is a compoundable offence where the department can impose a penalty,' the forest official said.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Fake two-wheeler spare parts and engine oil racket busted in Delhi, 5 arrested
The Delhi Police Crime Branch Saturday claimed to have arrested five people allegedly involved in the manufacturing and selling of fake two-wheeler spare parts and engine oil in North West and Central Delhi. Harsh Indora, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said the police seized a large quantity of fake automobile spare parts and engine oils worth approximately Rs 10 lakh, preventing their circulation in the market. He said The police received specific intelligence regarding the manufacture and sale of counterfeit products, including two-wheeler spare parts and engine oil, bearing the trademarks of reputed companies such as Honda Motorcycle, ASK, and TVS Motors. 'Acting on the directions of senior officers, the information was further developed, and contact was established with the authorised legal representatives of the companies. On July 15, a dedicated team led by Inspector Ajay Gahlawat under the close supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Sharma was constituted,' Indora said. He said the police conducted a raid at the Madanpur Dabas village in North West Delhi, and recovered a significant quantity of counterfeit two-wheeler engine oils, empty bottles, and packing materials bearing the branding of Honda and TVS Automobiles. Subsequently, on July 25, following further leads provided by the authorised legal representatives of Honda Motorcycle, ASK, and TVS Motors, the police undertook another raid at a shop in Nai Wala Market in Karol Bagh and Madanpur Dabas. This operation led to the recovery of a substantial stock of counterfeit two-wheeler spare parts and packaging materials of Honda and ASK, said the police. The police said during interrogation, an accused, Shubham Panjiyar, 29, of Uttam Nagar in West Delhi, confessed to being involved in the sale and purchase of counterfeit vehicle spare parts since 2020. He also disclosed his prior involvement in a similar case registered at Nihal Vihar area under the Copyright Act, said the police, adding that her revealed the names of co-accused: Shubham Panjiyar, Himanshu Kawatra, Naveen alias Deepak Taneja, Ramakant Chaurasia and Shyam Narain. The police said further investigation is underway to identify the broader network behind this illegal activity. These coordinated operations have dealt a significant blow to the illegal counterfeit trade and reaffirmed the Delhi Police Crime Branch's commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and brand integrity, the DCP said.
