200 new iPhones worth Rs 1.23 crore seized by Customs in 2 weeks

MUMBAI: The Air Intelligence Unit ( AIU) of the Mumbai Customs foiled the smuggling bids of passengers in separate cases and seized around 200 new iPhone handsets worth around Rs 1.23 crore at Mumbai Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport.

The newly-launched iPhone models-- 6S and 6S plus --were seized over the past two weeks, a Customs official said.

"These high-end models have been launched in some countries and are yet to be launched in India," the official said.

The passengers are trying to smuggle these phones to be sold in the grey market here.

The phones have been seized from fliers coming from Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Dubai and Johannesburg.

"Since the value of each phone is in excess of the admissible free allowance, it becomes dutiable", said the official.

Officials said if the passenger is apprehended after passing through the green channel, then he becomes liable to pay fine, penalty in addition to the customs duty, while passengers carrying iPhones in commercial quantity are liable to be arrested.