Kochi airport iPhone customs line explained: Why was an NRI passenger asked to pay nearly ₹30,000?

A dispute over whether a newly purchased iPhone can be brought into India duty-free has put the Kochi airport in the limelight.

Kochi Airport iPhone Row: What Exactly Happened?

An NRI passenger from Kozhikode, identified as Ajas Muhamad, was booked by the Nedumbassery police after he refused to pay a duty of nearly ₹30,000 on an iPhone 18 Pro that he bought in Dubai.

The disagreement was not only about the amount charged. He focused on how customs rules differentiate between personal effects and newly purchased goods brought into India from abroad.

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Ajas argued that the phone was for his personal use and argued that carrying two devices should not automatically make one mandatory.

However, customs officials reportedly believed that the newly purchased phone did not qualify for the used personal effects exemption.

What happened at Kochi Airport?

Ajas arrived at Nedumbassery Airport from the United Arab Emirates in October with a new iPhone 18 Pro as well as an older phone he was using. According to reports, customs officers questioned him about the new device and informed him that he would have to pay duty to take it out of the airport.

The amount allegedly demanded was between ₹20,000 a ₹30,000. Ajas refused to pay saying the phone was for his own use. He also claimed that other passengers arriving on the same flight faced similar demands.

After the disagreements escalated, Ajas staged a protest demonstration at the airport. CISF personnel intervened and escorted him away from the customs area.

The customs officials subsequently filed a complaint that he was preventing them from performing their duties. The Nedumbassery police have registered a case against him.

Ajas left the phone in customs custody and said he would challenge the decision legally.

What do Indian customs rules actually say?

The dispute drew attention to the Baggage Rules, 2026, which came into force on February 2. Under these rules, eligible residents of India, tourists of Indian origin and certain foreign nationals are entitled to a general duty-free allowance of Rs. ₹75,000 on arrival by air.

The rules also allow second-hand personal items required for the daily necessities of life to be imported into India duty-free. However, this does not mean that every newly purchased electronic item is automatically exempt just because the traveler intends to use it personally.

The rules define personal effects as items, new or used, that a passenger may reasonably require for personal use during a trip, excluding goods imported for commercial purposes.

However, the special duty exemption provision for personal effects applies to used daily necessities. General discounts and other applicable conditions also apply to new purchases.

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This is where the Kochi dispute gets complicated. Ajas reportedly bought the iPhone in Dubai for around Dh5,950, which is a higher value ₹A general allowance of 75,000. It appears that the customs officers treated the new equipment as a chargeable purchase, while Ajas questioned why it should not qualify as an item for personal use.

The rules do not set a simple flat limit of one mobile phone per passenger. However, carrying a device for personal use does not in itself really determine whether it qualifies for duty free clearance.

The incident has since sparked a debate among NRIs and frequent international travelers, many of whom have shared similar experiences at airport customs counters.