NEDUMBASSERY: The gold smuggling from Malaysia using women is on the rise. The Malaysian gold smuggling gangs overtake Gulf countries. 4.308 kg of gold worth Rs 2.13 crore was seized at the Kochi International Airport from Malaysia in the last one month.

The change is after people with gold from Gulf countries were continuously caught.

Women as carriers
Women are mainly used for the gold smuggling. Thirteen of the 17 people arrested in Nedumbassery airport for trying to smuggle gold this month are women. The customs seized 8.472 kg of gold worth 4.4 crore rupees in just two weeks. Of this, 1.721 kg was left on the plane. 4.308 kg of gold was from Malaysia.

One kg of gold in Indian currency will have a market value of more than Rs 4 lakh additional when compared to the market rate in Malaysia. Carriers are paid Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 apart from air tickets to bring the illegal gold to India. The low-ticket fare from Malaysia to Kochi is also convenient for them. If it is brought from the Gulf in the form of gold bars, it is delivered from Malaysia in the form of jewellery. If these are directly marketed as Malaysian cutting, the profit will increase.

The six Malaysian women arrested on July 6 revealed that an agent had arranged to bring the gold and that it was for a commission. However, they said they did not know for whom the gold was brought and that they were told that the agent from here would contact them when they get out of the airport. If in any case the carriers are detained by the customs, the tactic is to keep the investigation from reaching them.