Vijayawada Customs seize ₹7.48 crore gold

Vijayawada: Officials of Vijayawada Customs Commissionerate seized 12.97 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹7.48 crore at different places in the state and arrested four persons.

Based on a tip-off, a team of 30 officers from various formations of Customs carried out searches in several parts in the state and also along Andhra-Tamil Nadu border.

Cars and busses were checked at several places. In all, different team together seized 12.97 kg of gold valued at ₹7.48 crore. Of the 15 smugglers identified, four have been arrested.

In a statement on Wednesday, customs commissioner K. Engineer said tracing the origins of gold being smuggled into India is becoming difficult. This is because soon after the gold lands, it is being defaced or melted to remove foreign markings. It is then being moved to interior parts of the country.

In all, customs officials of Vijayawada have so far seized smuggled gold worth ₹19.75 crore in 2022–23, the statement added.