Ecuador mineral exports could fall by some 20% this year, says official
Mining exports were worth $3.3 billion for Ecuador in 2023.
An arriving airline passenger in Kolkata was arrested on Saturday after custom officials found Raiz Ahmad had hidden 1.3 kg of gold in the sole of shoe.
Ahmad had flown from Doha on Qatar Airways. Officials had been tipped off and were already on the lookout for the passenger.
The Times of India says custom officials have been busy busting precious metal smugglers with recent captures amounting to 7 kg gold and 6 kg silver.
The Indian government recently raised the tariff on gold. The country is trying to wean its populace off the precious metal, which is punching a yawning hole in its trade deficit.
Creative Commons image of shoes by Pete
