Authorities at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Commissionerate (Zone-III), Mumbai, have seized a total of 5.75 kg of smuggled gold worth Rs 5.10 crore in two separate cases, leading to the arrest of two individuals involved in the racket, officials confirmed.
In the first incident, a lounge staff member was intercepted while attempting to exit through the departure area. A search revealed six pouches of gold dust in wax concealed in his inner garments. The recovered gold weighed 2800 grams net (2947 grams gross) and is valued at Rs 2.48 crore. Investigators believe the contraband was handed over by a transit passenger.
In the second case, a contractual worker was caught at the staff exit point in the departure area. Six similar pouches of gold dust in wax, weighing 2950 grams net (3073 grams gross) and worth Rs 2.62 crore, were found hidden in his jacket pocket. He too had allegedly received the gold from a transit passenger. Both men have been arrested under relevant provisions of the Customs Act.
In a separate operation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), a Chadian national arriving from Addis Ababa was detained on May 16 following intelligence inputs. A personal search revealed gold bars concealed in the heels of his slippers, weighing 4015 grams and valued at around Rs 3.86 crore.
During interrogation, the passenger confessed to hiding the gold in an attempt to bypass customs screening. The gold was seized, and the individual was taken into custody under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is ongoing.
Authorities are probing deeper into the possible involvement of organized syndicates using airport insiders and foreign couriers to smuggle gold into the country.
