Crime
Dubai-Ahmedabad Flight Under Scanner After Major Gold Smuggling Bust
Customs officials at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport seized 24 foreign-origin gold biscuits worth over ₹4.26 crore from an IndiGo flight arriving from Dubai. The gold, concealed inside a lavatory speaker box, was recovered with the assistance of aircraft engineers and seized as unclaimed under the Customs Act.
In a major anti-smuggling operation, Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad seized 24 foreign-origin gold biscuits valued at ₹4.26 crore from an IndiGo flight arriving from Dubai.
According to officials, the recovery was made during a search of IndiGo Flight No. 6E-1478, which landed at the Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2026.
During the inspection, Customs officers, assisted by aircraft engineers, discovered two pouches wrapped in black plastic tape concealed inside a speaker box located in the front lavatory of the aircraft.
Upon opening the hidden pouches, officials recovered 24 gold biscuits of foreign origin, each bearing 999.0 purity (24-carat) markings.
The seized gold weighed a total of 2,799.3 grams, with an estimated local market value of ₹4,26,89,325 (₹4.27 crore).
Investigators said the sophisticated manner of concealment strongly indicated an attempt to smuggle the precious metal into India in violation of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
The gold had been carefully hidden within the aircraft structure, suggesting that it was intended to evade customs detection and be retrieved after the flight’s arrival.
However, during the search and subsequent inquiry, no individual came forward to claim ownership of the recovered gold.
As a result, Customs authorities seized the consignment as unclaimed property under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Officials have launched further investigations to identify those responsible for the smuggling attempt, including examining passenger records, crew details, airport surveillance footage, and any possible links to organised gold smuggling networks operating on international routes.
The seizure highlights the continued vigilance of Customs authorities in combating the illegal import of precious metals, a persistent challenge at major international airports across the country.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to strengthening surveillance mechanisms and intelligence-based operations to curb cross-border smuggling activities and protect the country’s economic interests.