Special Meeting of Directors-General of Customs Held to Combat Gold Smuggling
November 29, 2024
Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance
Due to factors such as the rapid recovery in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan and the recent surge in gold prices, recent months have seen a sharp increase in the number of gold smuggling incidents detected and the amount of gold seized. In the first half of 2024, the number of cases detected increased by 81% relative to the same period of the previous year, while the amount of gold seized increased approximately eight-fold. With the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan and the volume of imported goods expected to increase further, measures to combat gold smuggling have become a pressing issue.
In light of the current situation regarding gold smuggling, Customs and Tariff Bureau of Ministry of Finance and Japan Customs held a special meeting of Directors-General of Customs on November 28th, and the Director-General of Customs and Tariff Bureau instructed the Directors-General of Customs to further tighten border controls on gold smuggling at Customs.
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(Photos of the meeting)
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Customs and Tariff Bureau and Japan Customs will continue to consider ways to conduct more thorough inspection of passengers and import cargo, such as by equipping inspectors with equipment capable of detecting hidden gold, and will also take further strict measures against gold smuggling through investigations of violations, with the aim of enhancing the deterrent effect by imposing economic disadvantages on such smuggling.
detail：https://www.customs.go.jp/english/mizugiwa/gold/reinforce.htm
＜Images of the inspection equipment to be provided＞
