GOLD RUSH : Yellow Fever

George de Hevesy

HNO3 + 3HCL One part nitric acid with three parts hydrochloric acid , i.e. this chemical substance called Aqua Regia lies at the heart of an amazing legend. In 1940, when Adolf Hitler was on a roll, Prof. Niel Bohr was on a role. He shielded Jewish German scientists at his institute of Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. When the Third Reich army eventually marched into Denmark in April 1940, Bohr handed over two Nobel Medals to scientist George de Hevesy. Bohr wanted the gold medals belonging to German scientists Max von Laue and James Franck, who had fled Denmark for good, to be concealed from the marauding Nazi troops. A panicking de Hevesy found a "solution ". He dissolved the medals in Aqua Regia - "royal water" in Latin. Years later, after world war II ended, the gold was recovered from the solution and returned to the Nobel Foundation, which reissued the medals. 

                           

     

Neil Bohr

Back to the present . What was part of heroism of yore is now headache for customs officers in India. The Air Intelligence Unit at the various International Airport found gold being smuggled in 'royal liquid' form. 

    



A passenger named, Faisal of Kasaragod district in north Kerala (India), who arrived by AIR INDIA EXPRESS flight IX 434 from Dubai on March 6, walked through the green channel. The customs scanner has detected presence of metal in his baggage and after enquiry, custom officers found two kilos of gold, dissolved in Aqua-Regia, packed in condoms and concealed in liquid detergent containers. Customs officers say this was the first time they came across gold being smuggled in liquid form. 

Gold -plated spoons at the Cochin Aiport

Actually about 871 cases of gold smuggling worth Rs. 99 crore were filed in 2012, this fiscal year 2013 saw 1,131 cases worth Rs. 320 crore (till December). But these are only those cases which are caught red handed by the police and the officers of CBI. According to Former Finance minister P. Chidambaram recently admitted that up to three tonnes of gold was being smuggled into india every month and 150 - 200 tonnes in a year.

       This yellow fever is now effecting India's economy and GDP and due to this the price of gold is increasing rapidly in Indian market .

•  Between March 2012 and August 2013, the government raised gold import duties from 4% - 10% to control fiscal deflict.
• Though this curbed imports, domestic demand remained same. This led to smuggling of gold from many Gulf and South Asian countries.
• The price of gold in India is about Rs.4,000 higher than in Dubai, and importing gold and selling it in India fetches a profit of Rs. 5 lakh per kg.
• Intelligence sources say a part of the smuggled gold is routed to Islamic radical groups and the Underworld.
• While market analysis put the amount of gold smuggled into India annualy at 20 to 30 tonnes per month, Former Union Finanace Minister P. Chidambaram said it was 1-3 tonnes per month in the second half of 2013. However, World  Gold Council estimates put the amount close to 200 tonnes every year.
• According to WGC, gold demand in India was 975 tonnes in 2013 and is expected to be 900 - 1,000 tonnes in 2014.

The security of airports are being tightened, smugglers have come up with innovative methods to bring in gold.

• Conceales in food items like coffee powder and detergents.
• In lingerie acid, wrist watches, gadgets, cutlery, shoe soles and laces.
• Gold wires hidden in hair and beard.
• Stashing gold in imported vehicles.
• Carriers who swallow gold nuggets or conceal gold in their rectum.
• Bags with gold lining and trolleys with golden rods.
• Gold-plated spoons and belt buckles.
• Golden staples on cardboard boxes.

Gold spots : Kochi and Kozikode district of Kerala. The  major places of smuggling in INDIA.