Crime
Mumbai Airport Gold Bust: Customs Seize ₹12 Crore Gold from Dubai Trio in ‘Operation Golden Sweep’
In one of the largest single-day seizures of the current fiscal year, the Mumbai Customs Zone-III and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have successfully intercepted a massive gold smuggling attempt at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Three international passengers arriving from Dubai were apprehended with approximately 10.5 kg of 24-carat gold, valued at an estimated ₹12.08 crore in the current market.
The operation was the result of “specific intelligence” provided by the DRI regarding a transnational syndicate using transit passengers to move gold. The three suspects, who arrived on a late-night flight from Dubai today, March 31, were intercepted during a routine profiling check at the green channel.
Upon initial questioning, the passengers appeared evasive, prompting a detailed baggage and personal search. The search revealed a sophisticated “body-concealment” technique where the gold was processed into egg-shaped wax capsules and hidden internally. Additionally, several gold bars were found stitched into the waistlines of their specially modified innerwear.
Investigative sources suggest that this was not a solo effort but part of a larger, organized network. Preliminary questioning revealed that the passengers were instructed to hand over the gold to a “meet-and-greet” airport staff member within the international arrival terminal to bypass the final customs exit.
“The syndicate has been exploiting transit routes and attempting to use airport personnel as ‘internal carriers’ to move the metal out of the high-security zone,” a senior Customs official stated. This bust is being seen as a major breakthrough in ‘Operation Golden Sweep,’ a nationwide crackdown on high-value smuggling ahead of the new financial year.
