Gold smuggling has been a regular phenomenon in Kerala. Quite often smuggling of gold is reported from all international airports in Kerala. Apparently there are four international airports in the state, i.e., Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur. Now, the credible information has come from the horse’s mouth itself. Kochi Customs Preventive Commissioner Rajendrakumar stated, addressing a seminar in Kochi, that during the last fiscal year (2022 – 2023) Kerala Customs have seized 630 kgs gold, worth Rs 311 cr in connection with 810 cases. Arrest rate is an average of one man per day. During 2021 -22, 329 people were arrested. The seminar was organised by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying Economy (CASCADE). The seminar was conducted on “Smuggling and Counterfeiting” .
FICCI CASCADE’s recent report states that during 2022, the country lost Rs 58,521 cr owing to illegal trade. Cigarettes worth Rs 329 lakhs, in connection with 123 cases, had been seized. Several goods, including, gold, cigarette, narcotic drugs and electronic goods, coming to Bharat’s market. In 2019 – 20, illegal trade of mobile phone, FMCG, tobacco products and alcohol worth Rs 260,094 had taken place.
Kochi City Police Commissioner K. Sethuraman IPS, said, on the occasion, that modern methodologies applied in illegal activities and smuggling create challenges before the police investigations.
This is an alarming news for the patriots. Kerala is still not relieved from the shock of the giant consignment of narcotics Bharat Navy and Customs seized offshore last week. It weighed 2,525 kgs and worth more than Rs. 25,000 cr. National Narcotics Bureau (NCB) has sought the custody of the Pakistani citizen Subair caught hold during the offshore haul. He is reported to have told, during the interrogation, that he was a carrier for a Pakistani smuggler. No one can rule out the terror links of this drug consignment.
The aforementioned underlines the fact that Kerala Police should give more support to the central agencies to put an end to these anti-national activities.
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