Green channel shifted to crack down on gold smugglers at airport

THE CUSTOMS DEPT SHIFTED THE GREEN CHANNEL SO THAT PEOPLE AT THE ENTRY HALL CANNOT VIEW THE CUSTOMS POINT

NEW DELHI: A strategic change in the location of the green channel has led to an increase in the number of arrests of gold smugglers at the Delhi airport.

The customs department became aware that associates of smugglers used to wait at the arrival hall of the Indira Gandhi Inter national ( IGI) Airport for their associates, who would hand over gold smuggled in from overseas.

The customs department subsequently shifted the green channel so that people waiting at the entry hall cannot view the customs point.

“The smugglers we have caught so far are carriers who are paid to bring gold. Many a time they are just asked to hand over the gold to someone standing outside the airport. Because of this, we often failed to bust the entire gang... Now, we have plugged this gap and shifted the location of the green channel,” said an official.

Sources said that, after the change, the department has caught 3-4 gold carriers.

“It is difficult to bust a gang of smugglers as several people are involved. But by tracking down the receiver, we manage to stay a step ahead,” the official added.

Against the seizure of 6.6 kg of gold in 2012-13, the quantity of gold seized in 2013- 14 had increased to 384 kg. In 2014-15, customs officials confiscated 574 kgs of gold.