The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 42 kg of foreign-origin gold worth over ₹65 crore in a nationwide crackdown on organised gold smuggling. Nearly 10 kg of foreign-origin silver was also recovered during a series of intelligence-led operations. A total of 25 people, including five foreign nationals, have been arrested in the operations.
According to the DRI, the seizures exposed several sophisticated methods allegedly used by smuggling networks. These included hiding gold in specially fabricated cavities in vehicles, concealing it inside the body, using transit passengers and airport personnel to move contraband, and transporting precious metals through land and coastal routes.
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Foreign Nationals’ Smuggling Network Busted at Mumbai Airport
On August 28 and 29, the DRI uncovered an organised syndicate allegedly involved in smuggling foreign-origin gold through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The network allegedly used foreign nationals travelling through Mumbai from destinations including Dubai, Bangkok and Male.
An airport staff member was also allegedly involved in facilitating the clandestine removal of smuggled gold from the airport.
During the operation, DRI officers recovered 16 capsules containing 6.85 kg of 24-carat gold in wax form. Six people, including five foreign nationals and an airport employee, were arrested.
Major Recoveries in Kolkata and West Bengal
On August 29, DRI officers intercepted two passengers arriving at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport from Bangkok and Dubai in separate operations.
In the Dubai case, 4.87 kg of gold was recovered after gold-containing semi-solid paste was found concealed in the undergarments and jeans of two passengers. The material was subsequently melted and the extracted gold was seized in bar form. Both passengers were arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
In another case involving a passenger arriving from Bangkok, 3.36 kg of foreign-origin gold was recovered in the form of 11 raw gold chains. The DRI alleged that the gold had been handed over to the passenger by another person for crossing the Green Channel. Both passengers were arrested.
On the same day, in Nadia district of West Bengal, Border Security Force personnel recovered 125 foreign-origin gold bars weighing 15.61 kg during a search of a woman’s residential premises in Banpur village. During the subsequent investigation, the woman allegedly admitted to involvement in the smuggling activity along with male members of her household. She was arrested under the Customs Act.
Gold Hidden in Body and Iron Box Recovered in Kerala
On August 29, the DRI conducted two separate operations in Kerala.
At Cochin International Airport, officers recovered 1.78 kg of gold from two packets of gold compound concealed on the body of a passenger arriving from Ras Al Khaimah. The passenger was arrested.
At Calicut International Airport, DRI officers, assisted by the Air Intelligence Unit, detected 549 grams of 24-carat foreign-origin gold concealed inside specially created cavities in the heavy alloy portion of an iron box carried by a passenger arriving from Jeddah. The gold was seized and the passenger was arrested.
Operations Stretch From Indo-Bangladesh Border to Tamil Nadu Coast
On August 26 and 27, the DRI, in coordination with the BSF, conducted several operations along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Two separate cases resulted in the seizure of 935 grams and 1.74 kg of foreign-origin gold, with one person arrested in each case.
In another operation in Kolkata, DRI officers recovered 1.48 kg of foreign-origin gold in paste form, allegedly smuggled from Thailand. Four people were allegedly carrying five capsules concealed inside their bodies during a domestic road journey. Four carriers and their alleged handler were arrested.
In Guwahati, the DRI seized 3.84 kg of foreign-origin gold bars allegedly smuggled through the Indo-Bangladesh border via the Tripura sector. Two people, including a woman, were arrested.
In Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, DRI officers seized 1.360 kg of foreign-origin gold and 9.99 kg of foreign-origin silver allegedly smuggled through the coastal route from Sri Lanka. Three people were arrested in the case.
The DRI said its intelligence-led and coordinated enforcement operations are aimed at disrupting smuggling networks at multiple stages of the supply chain and preventing the illegal movement of precious metals into the country. Further investigations into the cases are underway.
