Customs Officials Seize Over Rs 4.27 Crore in Smuggled Gold and Cigarettes at Ahmedabad Airport Customs authorities at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport intercepted a significant smuggling operation, seizing gold valued at over Rs 4.27 crore hidden inside a speaker box on an IndiGo flight from Dubai. The gold, discovered during a routine inspection of IndiGo Flight 6E-1478, was concealed in a manner that indicated deliberate intent to evade customs regulations. Officials stated the method of concealment suggested the gold was hidden by an unidentified individual with the purpose of smuggling it into India, violating the Customs Act, 1962. The search, conducted by customs officers alongside aircraft engineers, focused on the aircraft’s front lavatory. Inside a speaker box, they found two pouches wrapped in black plastic tape. Upon examination, the officials recovered 24 foreign-origin gold biscuits of 999 purity (24 carat), totaling 2,799.3 grams. The gold’s market value was estimated at approximately Rs 4.27 crore. Since no passenger or crew member claimed ownership of the consignment, the gold was seized as unclaimed property under the provisions of the Customs Act. Further investigations are ongoing to trace the origin of the smuggled items and identify the responsible parties. This seizure follows a similar incident at the same airport, where customs officials intercepted two passengers arriving from Dubai and seized over 1.13 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes. The passengers, who arrived on an Emirates flight, were flagged after suspicious X-ray images of their checked-in baggage raised concerns. A detailed inspection of their luggage revealed a large consignment of concealed cigarettes.#indi_go #customs_authorities #ahmedabad_airport #sardar_vallabhbhai_patel_international_airport #customs_act_1962
India GST Payment March 19: ICEGATE 2.0 E-Pay Update, Pre-Deposit Advisory India’s GST payment processes are critical today as customs authorities advance the implementation of ICEGATE 2.0 e-payment and issue guidance on handling GST pre-deposits when a prior DRC-03 voluntary payment has already been made. This update directly impacts exporters and small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), affecting cash flow management, appeal timelines, and customs clearance efficiency. The guidance outlines steps to verify payment details, document set-off requests, and maintain records to avoid duplicate charges. The goal is to minimize penalties, expedite clearances, and safeguard working capital. ICEGATE 2.0 enables registered users to select eligible bills and pay customs duties online via authorized banking channels. Upon successful payment, the system updates the customs database to reflect the payment, streamlining clearance and reducing the need for in-person visits. Users are advised to check their IEC (Importer Exporter Code), port, and bill details against their documents. They must ensure their bank is enabled for ICEGATE e-payment and that payer credentials match the importer or exporter entity. Capturing the challan and confirmation reference in their ERP system is essential. If a transaction times out, verifying the status on the official portal before retrying is necessary to prevent duplicate charges. When a prior DRC-03 voluntary payment exists for the same dispute, exporters and MSMEs must disclose it in their appeal and request an adjustment against the statutory GST pre-deposit. Supporting documents include the DRC-03 ARN (Acknowledgment Reference Number), challan, and a reconciliation mapping the amounts to the contested demand.#india #msmes #icegate_2_0 #gst #customs_authorities
