CESTAT upholds confiscation of 844 grams of gold paste carried from Singapore to Hyderabad
CISF officers intercepted a passenger from Singapore at RGI Airport Hyderabad and handed four concealed gold-paste packets to Customs. Customs extracted 844 grams of gold valued at Rs 34,68,840 and ordered absolute confiscation with penalty. The CESTAT Hyderabad dismissed the appeal and upheld confiscation.
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How we verify →Absolute confiscation and Rs 3,50,000 penalty stand upheld by the CESTAT Hyderabad order dated 18.03.2026; appeal dismissed.
What happened
The Tribunal recorded that the passenger arrived from Singapore to Hyderabad by flight TR-574 on 15.02.2020 and was intercepted by CISF at the arrivals exit after passing through the green channel as he was moving suspiciously.
The Tribunal recorded that two packets each weighing 200 grams were recovered from his socks and two packets each weighing 350 grams from his undergarments, admitted to be gold in paste form, later melted to extract 844 grams of 24 ct gold with 999 purity.
The Tribunal recorded that Customs seized the gold on reasonable belief it was liable for confiscation, issued a show-cause notice, and after remand and de novo adjudication the Commissioner (Appeals) upheld absolute confiscation while reducing penalty to Rs 3,50,000.
The Tribunal held that passing through the green channel amounts to a declaration of no dutiable goods, that concealment established intent, and that Customs officers had jurisdiction to search and seize under Sections 100 and 101.
The Tribunal held that gold is notified under Section 123, the appellant produced no evidence of licit origin, denial of cross-examination caused no prejudice, and dismissed the appeal.
What the record says
“The present appeal has been filed against the Order-in-Appeal No. HYD-CUS-000-APP1-061-24-25 dated 26.02.2025 passed by the Commissioner of Customs and Central Tax (Appeals-I), Hyderabad, whereby, the appellate authority upheld the absolute confiscation of 844 grams of gold valued at Rs. 34,68,840/- and penalty of Rs. 3,50,000/-”
Customs Appeal No. 30558 of 2025, Final Order No. A/30168/2026, para 1 — read the full text
A peaceful economic act
Carrying gold for sale at profit harmed no one and involved no victim, fraud, force or spurious product. It was punished only for non-declaration and evasion of duty.
What we could not confirm
None on core facts; adjudication history involves an ex parte order dated 22.02.2021 and remand before the impugned appellate order.