Passenger Creates Uproar at Thiruvananthapuram Airport Over Customs Duty on Gold

Thiruvananthapuram: A tense and emotional scene unfolded early Sunday morning at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after a woman returning from Dubai became enraged over a hefty customs duty on the gold jewellery she was carrying.

The passenger, a middle-aged woman from Kollam, arrived on an Emirates flight and was directed to the customs counter on the Sankhumugham side of the terminal. She was informed that she would need to pay a 36% import duty on approximately 15 sovereigns—around 120 grams—of gold jewellery.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman became visibly upset and began shouting at customs officers. In a dramatic outburst, she threw both her baggage and the gold ornaments toward the customs desk. She insisted that the jewellery was part of her personal belongings, worn during her stay with relatives abroad, and claimed it had originally been taken from her home in India.

However, customs officials explained that in the absence of valid documentation—such as an export certificate proving the jewellery was carried out of India—such items are subject to import duties. Moreover, they noted that she did not meet the eligibility criteria for certain duty exemptions, including the requirement of a stay abroad exceeding six months. As a result, she was liable to pay more than ₹2 lakh in taxes.

As tensions escalated, the woman reportedly removed her jewellery and left it at the customs counter before walking away to retrieve her checked-in baggage. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was alerted and closely monitored the situation.

Later, the woman returned with family members and attempted to negotiate with customs officials. Despite emotional pleas, authorities maintained their stance, reiterating that the gold could only be reclaimed upon payment of the duty or by re-exporting it out of the country.

After an extended discussion, the woman eventually accepted the conditions and left the airport with her family. While customs officials have not confirmed whether any legal action will be pursued, the incident has once again spotlighted the frequent confrontations between returning non-resident Indians (NRIs) and airport customs authorities over gold import regulations.