TAIPEI: A Hong Kong woman was intercepted at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Saturday after she attempted to take four gold bars, weighing one kilogram each, out of the country, aviation police said Sunday.
Police said the woman, surnamed Liao, was found to have something suspicious in her handbag during an X-ray security check, which was discovered to be four gold ingots worth nearly NT$5 million (US$151,930).
The woman told police that the gold bars were gifts from her friends and that she was not aware of the exact maximum amount of gold bullion she could legally take out of the country.
Police turned the case over to the Customs authorities and the gold was later returned to the woman, but she was barred from continuing her trip.
The maximum value of gold an airline passenger is allowed to take out of the country is US$20,000, according to the Customs authorities.
