Mumbai Airport Customs Seize 14kg of Gold, Arrest Staff and Foreign National in Smuggling Bust
In a significant crackdown at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Customs officials confiscated approximately 14 kilograms of gold valued at over Rs. 11 crore in two separate operations. The seizures, involved the arrest of a private airport employee and a foreign national, both implicated in smuggling activities.
In the first case, authorities intercepted a private airport staff member during a routine check. A search revealed two pouches containing 24-karat gold dust in wax form, concealed within the individual’s undergarments. The gold, weighing 1,687 grams gross and 1,610 grams net, was valued at Rs. 1.31 crore. Customs officials seized the contraband under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, suspecting an attempt to smuggle it clandestinely into India.
In a related operation, officials uncovered additional gold hidden among discarded items from an aircraft’s lavatories and pantry. Two black pouches containing gold dust in wax form, with a gross weight of 3,269 grams and a net weight of 3,120 grams, were recovered. Valued at Rs. 2.53 crore, this seizure further highlighted the sophisticated methods used by smugglers. The gold was also confiscated under the Customs Act, 1962.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the origins and intended destinations of the smuggled gold. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai Zonal Unit, played a key role in dismantling this smuggling syndicate, underscoring the authorities’ vigilance in curbing illegal activities at one of India’s busiest airports.
