New Delhi, July 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 27 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold and arrested 12 people during a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across multiple cities, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.
According to an official statement, the week-long crackdown exposed sophisticated gold smuggling methods, with the precious metal concealed inside aircraft lavatories, specially fabricated cavities in utensils and vehicles, as well as on the bodies of passengers.
The biggest seizure was made in Mumbai, where DRI officers intercepted three passengers arriving from Addis Ababa on July 23-24. Around 12 kg of foreign-origin gold, packed into six bars, was recovered from ceiling panels inside the rear lavatory of an aircraft. Investigations revealed that the gold had been hidden for retrieval by airport staff. The contraband was seized and all three passengers were arrested.
In another operation at Mumbai Airport, officials uncovered a syndicate that smuggled gold dust in wax form concealed inside an aircraft lavatory. The operation led to the seizure of 3.7 kg of gold and the arrest of five persons, including the carrier, aircraft cleaning staff, handler and recipient.
In Uttar Pradesh, DRI officers intercepted a woman travelling on the Brahmaputra Mail and recovered 42 foreign-origin gold bars weighing about 5 kg concealed in a waist belt and handbag. During questioning, she reportedly admitted that the gold had been smuggled into India through Bangladesh.
Separately, officials seized 4.6 kg of foreign-origin gold concealed inside specially fabricated utensils from a passenger at Kolkata Railway Station. Additional operations in Cochin and Guwahati resulted in the recovery of around 2 kg of smuggled gold.
The DRI said the coordinated operations reflect its continued efforts to dismantle organised gold smuggling networks and curb the illegal inflow of precious metals into the country.
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