The News Minute | September 8, 2014 | 5.40 pm ISTIt has been a lesson from history that whenever restrictions on trade increase, people turn to illegal means. R-22 or chlorodifluoromethane, a gas that is used as a refrigerant in fridges and air conditioners, has become the new favourite of smugglers, says Times of India. R-22 is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that causes global warming. In India the sale and import of this gas is restricted and an additional license is required for importing this gas. Some developed countries have completely banned its usage. However, smugglers hardly care more for money than the environment. With an increased demand for fridges and ACs the demand for this gas has gone higher, more than the licensed supply. Smugglers have found a new business in this gas in India. This gas has been red flagged along with gold, drugs, counterfeit currencies, red sanders, etc. by the Central Board of Excise and Customs and the ports have been alerted. The Board ‘will maintain a special focus this year as the department of revenue intelligence has spotted new ways of smuggling these items into the country,’ the Times of India reported senior government officials saying.