Mumbai, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has seized 9.40 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at around Rs 14.81 crore and arrested three Indian passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, officials said.
The interception was carried out in the early hours of September 23 based on specific intelligence, with operational assistance from the Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Airport Customs. The three passengers had arrived from Dubai.
According to the DRI, a detailed examination of their baggage revealed that the gold had been converted into fine powder and mixed with packaged food products of similar colour, texture and consistency in an attempt to evade routine detection.
The gold powder was concealed in several food packets containing milk powder, oats, different types of flour, Nutella and coconut milk powder. In all, around 33.50 kg of food products mixed with gold powder were recovered from the baggage of the three passengers.
Following segregation and assaying, DRI officers recovered 9.40 kg of pure foreign-origin gold valued at approximately Rs 14.81 crore. The gold was seized under relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
During questioning, all three passengers allegedly admitted that they were acting on behalf of the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate. They were subsequently arrested under the Customs Act.
The DRI described the concealment method as sophisticated, with powdered gold blended into everyday food products to make it harder to detect during security and customs checks.
The agency said the seizure highlights the evolving methods allegedly being used by international gold-smuggling networks and its continued efforts to dismantle such syndicates.
Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the alleged syndicate and trace the wider network behind the smuggling operation.
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