• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
• Pornographic material
• Counterfeit and pirated goods and good infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights.
• Specified wild life products.

• Firearms and ammunition.
• Live birds and animals including pets.
• Plants and their produce e.g. fruits, seeds in particular cot flowers, fruits and vegetables weighing of 2 kg. and above.
• Commercial goods.
• Radio transmitters not approved for normal usage.
• Gold and Silver, other than ornaments. (for import only)
• Indian and foreign currency in excess of prescribed limits:
  • Foreign currency in excess of US$ 5000 in the form of currency notes or equivalent and US$ 10000 or equivalent in the form of currency notes, bank notes or traveller's cheques is required to be declared on arrival.
  • Foreign currency in excess of amount legally obtained or in the case of tourists in excess of the amount declared on arrival or in excess of the exempted limit of declaration at the time of departure.
• Dealing in Narcotic Drugs is a serious offence and may lead to death penalty in certain countries.
• Export or Import in prohibited and restricted goods commonly leads to arrest/ imprisonment.

The Indian Customs Act empowers imposition of heavy penalties for those passengers who:

• Attempt to walk through the Green Channel with prohibited, restricted or dutiable goods.
• Misdeclare their goods at the Red Channel Counter.
• Attempt to export prohibited or restricted goods.
• Abet the commission of any of the above offences.

The Penal Provisions may lead to:

• Absolute confiscation of goods, or
• Imposition of heavy fine in respect of the concerned goods if these are released.
• Imposition of penalty on individual or concerned entities upto five times the value of goods or the duty involved.
• Arrest and prosecution including invocation of preventive detention in serious cases.

The best way to deal with your complaint on the spot is to meet the Shift Deputy Commissioner of Customs on duty or you could also meet his senior i.e. Additional Commissioner of Customs, during normal office hours (10 AM to 6 PM). If you are not satisfied with the response or your complaint remains unresolved, you may contact the - :

Commissioner of Customs (General),
New Customs House, IGI Airport,
New Delhi-110 037
(Telephone: 00-91-11-25652090) or by Fax: 00-91-11-25652090. You could also access him by e-mail - cusgen.del@gudel.global.net.in