New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 42 kg of foreign-origin gold and around 10 kg of silver worth over Rs 65 crore in a nationwide crackdown on suspected gold-smuggling networks. The operations across multiple locations also resulted in the arrest of 25 people, including five foreign nationals, according to officials.
The seizures revealed several methods allegedly used by smuggling networks to move foreign-origin gold into and across India, including concealment inside vehicles, body concealment, airport channels and land and coastal routes.
125 Gold Bars Recovered From Bengal Village Home
One of the largest seizures was reported from Nadia district in West Bengal, where authorities recovered 125 foreign-origin gold bars weighing 15.61 kg from the residence of a woman in a village near the India-Bangladesh border.
The recovery was made during a search operation conducted with the Border Security Force (BSF). The woman was subsequently arrested after authorities alleged that she was involved in the smuggling operation along with a male associate.
The seizure highlights the use of residential locations away from major transport hubs to store and move smuggled gold.
Nearly 7 Kg Gold Hidden in Wax Seized in Mumbai
In Mumbai, DRI officials uncovered another major consignment involving 6.85 kg of 24-carat gold concealed in wax.
The gold was reportedly packed into 16 capsules and linked to a suspected smuggling network operating through Mumbai airport. The investigation allegedly revealed connections involving passengers travelling from destinations including Dubai, Bangkok and Malaysia.
Six people were arrested in connection with the Mumbai operation, including five foreign nationals and an airport employee who was allegedly assisting the network.
The case has also raised concerns over the possible involvement of airport insiders in facilitating the movement of smuggled gold.
Gold Concealed Inside Bodies and Clothing
The DRI also intercepted passengers using unconventional methods to conceal gold.
At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, two passengers arriving from Dubai were intercepted with around 4.87 kg of gold concealed in their clothing, including their undergarments and jeans.
In another Kolkata operation, officials recovered 1.48 kg of foreign-origin gold allegedly smuggled from Thailand. The gold was concealed inside capsules carried within the bodies of four passengers travelling by land.
The passengers and an alleged handler were arrested in connection with the operation.
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Border and Coastal Routes Also Used
The crackdown extended beyond airports. In separate operations along the India-Bangladesh border, DRI officials seized 935 grams and 1.74 kg of gold in two cases and arrested one person in each operation.
Officials also recovered 3.84 kg of gold in Guwahati. In Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, authorities seized 1.36 kg of gold and 9.99 kg of silver in an operation involving a suspected coastal smuggling route from Sri Lanka.
The seizures demonstrate the increasingly varied methods allegedly used by smuggling networks, ranging from airport-based operations and body concealment to border crossings, residential storage and coastal routes.
The DRI’s nationwide action underscores the scale and complexity of foreign-origin gold smuggling and the challenges faced by enforcement agencies in tracking networks operating across multiple routes and jurisdictions.
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About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
