Scamsters gold plate imitation jewels to hoodwink customs X-ray machines

Colluding officers didn't follow mandated step of scratching jewel surface before testing them

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR

THE Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)'s investigation into the ₹941 crore gold diversion scam has exposed the futility of X-ray spectrometer machines used by Chennai Customs and the methods followed by officers to detect imitation jewellery. The investigation has found that the scamsters were able to hoodwink the machine by electroplating the top layer of the imitation jewellery with pure AII C PA SEE gold. Also, three colluding customs officers at the Chennai Air Cargo complex did not bother to scratch the surface of the jewels before subjecting them to the test which is a procedure mandated in their training guidelines.

According to the probe report of DRI and customs in September 2024 and January 2023, six Chennai-based jewellers procured duty-free imported gold bars from RBI-nominated agencies for manufacturing gold jewellery meant for export.