Seize 100 million gold ingots Smuggling high soaring gold due to coronal outlook 18:37 on June 2
In April this year, it was found that about 18 kg of gold bullion, equivalent to 100 million yen in amount, was hidden inside the electric tool imported as air cargo at Chubu Airport, and it was found that the customs had seized it. It was. Gold is at a historically high price due to concerns about the future of the economy due to the new coronavirus, and the investigative authorities investigated that it tried to obtain a large margin by smuggling the consumption tax amount at the customs without paying it. I am.
According to the people involved in the investigation, customs inspected the cargo imported from South Korea to Chubu Airport in mid-April this year, and it was about 18 kg in a dozen or so power tools. I found a hidden gold lump worth 100 million yen.
The gold ingot was cleverly shaped according to the internal structure of the power tool.
When bringing in money from overseas, it is necessary to declare it to the customs office and pay the amount of consumption tax, but it has not been declared and so far, the sender and the recipient are not specified. is.
The price of gold, which is considered a "safe asset," has risen sharply due to concerns about the future of the economy due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. I tried to get a big profit by selling at the price of, and I am investigating it for suspicion of violation of customs law.
How to get a "margin"
Normally, when bringing in gold from overseas, you must declare it at the customs office and pay the consumption tax.
After that, ask a precious metal shop to purchase it at a price including consumption tax.
Smuggling is done by exploiting this mechanism.
For example, if you bring in a gold ingot with a market price of 100 million yen to Japan, you should pay 10 million yen, which is the current 10% consumption tax, to customs and add 110% to the price of precious metal stores and so on. I will buy it at.
However, if you sell money without paying consumption tax by smuggling, you can get 10 million yen as a "margin".
As the price of gold rises, so does the amount of consumption tax, which increases the amount of "umami" obtained from smuggling.
Gold futures prices continue to rise
Gold futures prices traded on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange continue to rise. In March, when the global financial market was disrupted due to the spread of the new coronavirus, there was a situation where the movement to sell stocks etc. intensified to keep cash in hand in case of a shortage, and gold was also sold. did.
However, after the first emergency declaration was issued in April, the movement to buy "safety assets" increased, reflecting the caution that the business performance of the company will be more severe due to requests for leave. Gold futures prices have renewed their highs.
After that, concerns about the future of the economy increased, and in mid-May the futures price of gold on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange exceeded 6,000 yen per gram.
It is the first time that the transaction has exceeded 6,000 yen since 1982 when the transaction started, and the historical high price continues.
More people selling gold at precious metal purchase stores
While the price of gold in the market has skyrocketed due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the percentage of people who sell their gold at hand and exchange it for cash is increasing at the stores that purchase precious metals in Gifu City.
In the middle of last month, the price when buying gold from customers soared to about 5900 yen per gram at this store.
It is the highest since the store opened 25 years ago.
Since many of the gold brought in are ornaments such as necklaces and commemorative coins, we expect that more and more people will sell gold if prices continue to rise.
The person in charge of the buying shop said, "Honestly, we feel that something like a "precious metal bubble" is happening within us. The market price is really high, so it is a very good timing to sell." It may be time."