Gold smugglers shining

New Delhi: While India – the world’s second-biggest buyer of gold – is trying to crack down on smugglers, they have come up with innovative ways to bring in gold ranging from swallowing nuggets to hiding bars in dead cows.

India – whose appetite for gold is only rivalled by China – last year imposed a record 10% import duty and made it mandatory to export a fifth of all bullion imports, seeking to curb bullion demand that has blown out the trade deficit. 

In the latest smuggling case, a gold exporting firm attempted to use a tax-free special economic zone to try to bypass restrictions and sell to the local market.

The scam was uncovered after police stopped a car trying to take 25 gold bars, worth about $1 million, out of a tax-free special economic zone in Surat in June to sell to the domestic market, according to a government document. The owner of the firm was arrested. 

The new government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been expected to loosen the policies, but its first Budget maintained the tough stance.

The June arrest was the first time authorities had seized gold being smuggled out of a special economic zone, according to a government source, and appears to reveal a more sophisticated scam to get gold into the local market. 

Government figures show that only 2.34 tonnes of smuggled gold was retrieved last year, while the World Gold Council estimated 150-200 tonnes of gold illegally entering India.

Illustrating the extent of smuggling, India’s junior civil aviation minister said this week staff of the national carrier, Air India, had been found smuggling in gold in 13 instances in the last few years.

But special economic zones could be especially vulnerable since exporters do not pay duty to bring gold into India, and thus can make a huge profit by diverting supplies to the domestic market. There are 185 such zones in India. 

Last year’s restrictions on imports have curbed supply and pushed up domestic premiums – the difference between local and global prices – to a record $160 or 9800 rupees an ounce last December. Indian gold imports plunged by a fifth last year to 825 tonnes though jewellery and investment demand rose 13%. One of the government sources said that others are likely to be using special economic zones to bring in gold.