India's illegal gold imports hit 3-year high, up 16-fold India's illegal gold flow rose to an estimated 50 tonnes in the third quarter of 2026 (July-. September), compared to only 3 tons in the corresponding period in 2025, which marks an increase of over 1,500%. According to the World Gold Council, the sharp increase follows the government's decision to raise gold import duties to 15%, making illegal imports more attractive.