Lucknow: In a move initiative by Customs Department coordinating with the UP Passport Office released that Gold smuggler or if reply is found unsatisfactory between an international airport in Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow and Varanasi) accused will immediately lose their passport.
A new action which is taken restricts growing smuggling cases of gold at Lucknow and Varanasi international airports.
According to the Commissioner Customs (Preventive) Lucknow, V.P.Shukla said, “the decision to cancel passports was taken after the department observed that most of the smugglers are turning into habitual offenders in the absence of strict legal provisions.”
Further adding to this he said, “These accused would easily find ways to escape law. So, we took the measure to create fear in the minds of the smugglers.”
Customs officers will identify the accused based on their inputs and will issue show-cause notices.
Smuggling of Gold in UP will cost your passport at airports in Lucknow-Varanasi:
The Deputy Commissioner of Customs duty, Niharika Lakhra said, “We will identify repeat offenders or anyone who is found to be carrying more than the value of gold. The person will face action on two fronts one in the court and another by the passport office.”
Statically UP customs wing recorded 46 cases of smuggling in 2018-19 which was worth Rs 9.30 crore.
In 2017-18 there were 50 such cases with value of Rs 5.21 crore.
During 2018-19 seizure included about 20 kgs gold valued at Rs 6.42 crore along with foreign currencies worth Rs 1.74 crore.
According to officials in UP customs arrested 16 persons during 2018-19 as compared to 13 arrests in 2017-18 which has gone up to 22 this year.
