The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has busted a Dubai-linked gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and seized 2.6 kg of foreign-origin gold worth ₹4.2 crore. Officers intercepted two passengers at the airport and later arrested a Navi Mumbai-based jeweller after the probe pointed to a wider smuggling network.
Gold Concealed in Wax
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officers laid a trap at the airport and intercepted two passengers suspected of carrying smuggled gold into the country. What initially appeared to be routine baggage clearance soon turned into a significant smuggling bust.
During a personal search, officers recovered two pouches containing gold dust concealed in wax form. The seized gold was found to be of 24-karat purity, with a total net weight of 2,600 grams and an estimated market value of ₹4.20 crore.
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Dubai-Mumbai Network Under Probe
Investigators subsequently uncovered a wider conspiracy stretching from Dubai to Mumbai. The probe revealed that a Navi Mumbai-based jeweller had allegedly played a key role in the operation by coordinating with accomplices to facilitate the illegal movement of gold into India.
The jeweller was arrested along with the two passengers involved in the smuggling attempt. According to officials, the syndicate had devised the wax-concealment method in an apparent effort to evade customs scrutiny.
DRI Tracks Wider Syndicate
Officials said intelligence-based surveillance and swift intervention by enforcement officers prevented the smuggled gold from entering the illegal market. The seizure comes at a time when the government has tightened duties and taxes on gold to conserve foreign exchange and protect economic interests, making smuggling networks increasingly active in attempts to bypass legal import channels.
The DRI said the operation highlights its growing intelligence capabilities and sustained efforts to dismantle organised smuggling networks operating across international borders. Further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the syndicate and trace the broader network behind the operation.
