9 things Customs can't catch you for

I remember when my school friend had been to London for the first time many years ago, and we had given her a list of things to get for us. I had asked for a London souvenir, some friends had asked for makeup, while some others had asked for cookies. When she came back from London 10 days later, I got my souvenir, while others got their makeup. But my friend, who was waiting for her cookies, was sorely disappointed.

“You know I had got 10 boxes for everyone, but the officer took it from my bag, looked at it, and threw it into the dustbin.”

We had all gasped in shock! There were people dying across the world, people are trying to save money, and here is this British officer who has the audacity to throw packed boxes of cookies?! How could this be the behaviour of some anpadh gavaar?

That was the first time we got to know about London Customs and their stupid rules. But that’s the thing. It happens so many times. We return from an overseas trip loaded with so much stuff, only to face one BIG problem! Some items cannot pass through Customs.

In India, the Customs Baggage Rules 2016 lists the items that are allowed and prohibited when coming into the country. So that you don’t face the disappointment that we (and Hardik Pandya) did, here is a list of some leeway that allows you to get the below items into India without a problem:

1. Liquor: Each person is allowed to bring in 2 litres of alcohol into the country. Anything more than that is taxed (OR maybe you can plead with someone to fit 2 litres in his or her bag for you, then meet them out of the airport and pay for their taxi fare and lunch)

2. Cartridges: A person can bring in about 50 firearm cartridges (maybe for those annoying relatives and neighbors who keep peeping into your lives without invitation. Although, would it not be sensible instead to allow another bottle of wine, because liquor isn't as harmful as firearms and cartridges?)  

3. Sona: Gold and silver are only allowed in the form of ornaments. (For more information, contact Bappi Lahiri. On second thoughts, how much tax does Bapppi Lahiri pay (has paid) if he has imported all his gold 'cos tax on this is about 40%!)  

pic.twitter.com/kuCvfDr8yP

— Mumbai Customs-III (@mumbaicus3) August 26, 2021

Indian male passengers can carry up to 20 grams of duty-free gold jewellery worth Rs 50,000 or less, while Indian female passengers can carry upto 40 grams of duty-free gold jewellery worth Rs 1,00,000 or less. Bringing more is subject to custom duty. (Women get to carry more gold than men, isn’t it sweet? Maybe it’s time to enhance the limits?)

Chennai Air Customs: 488 grams of assorted Gold Jewellery (21 karat) valued at Rs.18.58 lakhs seized & recovered under the Customs Act,1962 from a pax who arrived by flight KU-1343 from Kuwait on 09.11.2021. Gold Jewellery was concealed in his baggage. @cbic_india pic.twitter.com/d61WiV90IJ

— Chennai Customs (@ChennaiCustoms) November 10, 2021

4. Cigarettes and cigars: You can bring in about 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars. (But we would recommend you don’t because Mumbai and Delhi already have poor AQI.)

Tamil Nadu: Customs at Chennai International Airport seized gold worth Rs 17.8 lakhs and cigarettes valued at Rs 64,000 from a person. Further investigation underway. pic.twitter.com/e1d7EXBNn7

— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2019

5. Perfume: Up to 100 ml (This needs revision in our opinion.)

6. Remote-controlled drones and helicopters, if allowed with a permit by the government. (Again, helps you keep an eye on, well, things you shouldn’t be keeping an eye on.)

7. Seeds and plants: With a permit. 

.@CBP Agriculture Specialists at @Dulles_Airport seized 10 kg of live succulent plants, a mulberry plant, and 8 types of vegetable seed packets from a passenger arriving from South Korea. Live plants and seeds can introduce pests and diseases to American agriculture. pic.twitter.com/2qnVY3Kc3r

— Director of Field Operations Stephen Maloney (@DFOBaltimore) May 30, 2021

8. Personal effects and souvenirs: There is no limit on the number of personal items worn by passengers and travel souvenirs that are brought in by passengers. Custom officials, however, can check passengers to keep a check on the things that are brought into the country. 

9. Currency: A person can bring in to India or take out of India a maximum of Rs 25,000 of Indian currency in cash. Foreign currencies brought into India can be unlimited but amount exceeding US$ 5,000 have to be declared. 

Rs 70 cr cash, 170 kg gold seized at airports in India post note ban https://t.co/82TELPth3W pic.twitter.com/CWMQKnq3v5

— Business Standard (@bsindia) December 14, 2016

There are separate considerations if you are travelling from Nepal, Bhutan or Myanmar. Also, in case you have stayed abroad for more than 6 months or 1 year or 3 years, there are additional allowances which passengers can take advantage of.

A few things that are (ridiculously) a strict no-no on the plane: 

• Flat Panel (LCD/LED/ Plasma) TV
• Achaar / Pickles (How can Indians abroad survive without achaar? I pity Priyanka Chopra.)
• Pets (some allow this if the RTPCR Test is valid, while some evil men don’t entertain this at all.)
• Car seats are not allowed! (Who knew this?) 

Mumbai Airport Customs Seized 3.5 KG Heroin valued at Rs 18 Crores from a Zambian lady passenger who arrived From Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . The passenger was arrested under NDPS act .Further Investigation is underway.#Indiancusstomsatwork pic.twitter.com/EQ2tnUA8WR

— Mumbai Customs-III (@mumbaicus3) September 24, 2021

Maybe if we could, we would hoard some skincare, some cars, and maybe some exotic animals (because online videos don't do justice to cute pandas!).

If you had to bring in something that you currently cannot, what would you bring in? Tell us in the comments. Meanwhile, here is the official notification of all things that you can bring in through the Customs, and the allowances you are eligible for.