My entry into India was not a smooth experience. In London duty free I had purchased two bottles of wine and two bottles of champagne. Little did I know you can only bring two bottles of any alcohol into the country. My bags were scanned as I was leaving Mumbai airport and the bottles discovered. Again, still unaware I was doing anything wrong, I was surprised when I was pulled aside and brought over to the customs police. I was then brought up to speed on the rules and regulations of duty free allowances and told I had to pay a customs charge on the bottles of wine. For wine that was valued at £21.00 for both bottles (and I told them it was worth £12) they wanted to charge me £50 (that is about one month's wages for the average Indian). My Egyptian experience served me well and after a bit of bartering and back room conversations, I walked out paying £15.00 in duty on my two bottles of wine. Welcome to India!
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