Protect seized gold from theft: Finance ministry to Customs dept

A total of 23.6 kg has gone missing from the vaults at IGIA, the Customs department had said in reply to a Right to Information query

Citing instances of theft of gold and high-value goods from strongrooms, the finance ministry has asked officers to stop these and also guard valuables seized from smugglers against rodents and insects. Gold worth crores seized from smugglers has been mysteriously disappearing from high-secured Customs vaults at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here, and from a few other locations in the country. A total of 23.6 kg (worth Rs 6.2 crore according to the prevailing price) has gone missing from the vaults at IGIA, the Customs department had said in reply to a Right to Information query.

In the recent past, the smuggling of high-value goods, especially gold is on the rise, as evident from the increasing number of seizures made by the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence and different field formations.
 
"At the same time, there have been instances of loss and theft of gold and high value goods from the strong rooms and seized goods godowns reported by the field formations. Though there are detailed guidelines for handling and storage of seized or detained and confiscated goods, the recent cases of loss or theft of valuables raise a serious concern over the way these guidelines are implemented by the field formations," the finance ministry said in fresh guideline issued recently to top customs and central excise officers.

The responsibility of proper storage and custody of these goods shall be on custodian. The custodian shall also ensure that the packages are carefully stored and protected against the ravages of weather, ants, rodents, insects etc, it said.

The strong room or valuables godown shall have additional security features like CCTV camera at the most vantage point to keep round the clock surveillance.

Cases of mysterious disappearance of gold from the customs secure vaults are being regularly reported. The role of customs officials posted there has also come under scrutiny of the police and senior departmental officials, official sources said.

The gold, in bullion or jewellery, seized from smugglers is kept in secure vaults inside the airport terminals and at other locations by different field formations.