200 iPhone 6s seized at city airport since Sept 25 launch
Getting the latest iPhone from abroad because it’s still not available in India? You could land in deep trouble if you walk through the Green Channel with it.
The Mumbai Customs have noticed a massive spurt in smuggled iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at the airport and, since its launch on September 25, have seized 200 such handsets from foreign returning passengers.
While Apple will officially launch the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in India on the night of October 15, those returning from abroad have started bringing back the handsets.
Officials warned that if passengers are detected with the handsets after passing through the Green Channel, they are liable to pay a fine, penalty and duty. According to Lanjewar, duty will be levied on a single phone as well, since its value is more than goods allowed under ‘free allowance’.
“Technically, passengers have to declare goods above Rs 45,000, but most people are not aware of this. Duty of 36% is levied on the excess amount,” Lanjewar said, adding that even a single iPhone would have to be declared and the duty paid.
India prices released by Apple distributor Ingram Micro on Tuesday pegged the iPhone 6s 16 GB at Rs 62,000, the 64 GB variant at Rs 72,000 and 128 GB version at Rs 82,000, while the iPhone 6s Plus 16 GB will be priced at Rs 72,000, 64 GB at Rs 82,000 and 128 GB at Rs 92,000. All the prices, it may be noted, exceed the permissible free duty limit.
Officials said that passengers are smuggling them in for monetary benefit by sale through the grey market. “This seizure is not the first. On Sunday, seven youths who came from Hong Kong and Singapore were detained in Delhi with 182 iPhone 6S and 6S Plus,” an official said.
The new iPhone models are presently available across US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Singapore. Apple has sold over 13 million units of these phones since the launch.
The Mumbai Customs have noticed a massive spurt in smuggled iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at the airport and, since its launch on September 25, have seized 200 such handsets from foreign returning passengers.
While Apple will officially launch the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in India on the night of October 15, those returning from abroad have started bringing back the handsets.
“We seized 200 of the latest iPhone models, valued at Rs 1.23 crore, over the last week. They were being smuggled into India by fliers from Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Dubai, etc. We have increased screening of baggage, besides profiling of passengers,” Additional Commissioner, Customs, Milind Lanjewar said.
Officials warned that if passengers are detected with the handsets after passing through the Green Channel, they are liable to pay a fine, penalty and duty. According to Lanjewar, duty will be levied on a single phone as well, since its value is more than goods allowed under ‘free allowance’.
“Technically, passengers have to declare goods above Rs 45,000, but most people are not aware of this. Duty of 36% is levied on the excess amount,” Lanjewar said, adding that even a single iPhone would have to be declared and the duty paid.
India prices released by Apple distributor Ingram Micro on Tuesday pegged the iPhone 6s 16 GB at Rs 62,000, the 64 GB variant at Rs 72,000 and 128 GB version at Rs 82,000, while the iPhone 6s Plus 16 GB will be priced at Rs 72,000, 64 GB at Rs 82,000 and 128 GB at Rs 92,000. All the prices, it may be noted, exceed the permissible free duty limit.
Officials said that passengers are smuggling them in for monetary benefit by sale through the grey market. “This seizure is not the first. On Sunday, seven youths who came from Hong Kong and Singapore were detained in Delhi with 182 iPhone 6S and 6S Plus,” an official said.
The new iPhone models are presently available across US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Singapore. Apple has sold over 13 million units of these phones since the launch.
