According to figures released by the government, between April and June it intercepted $44 million worth of smuggled gold at the country’s airports. That compares with $82 million in the year ended March 31.

Last year, between April and July, the Mumbai airport customs had seized 61.46 kilograms gold, while this year until July, it had seized 403.52 kilograms. The customs officials at the Chennai airport in the South, have also reported seizing much more gold than last year.

Plainly put, thanks to the high import duty imposed last year on the yellow metal by the Indian Government to bring down the nation’s fiscal deficit, gold smuggling is thriving across the country.