The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intensified its crackdown on gold smuggling syndicates, resulting in the seizure of over 27 kilograms of foreign-origin smuggled gold and the arrest of 12 persons. The Ministry of Finance said that DRI officers carried out a series of intelligence-driven operations across the country during the week.
In Mumbai, DRI officers arrested three passengers arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and recovered six foreign-origin gold bars weighing around 12 kilograms. The gold was concealed inside the ceiling panels of the rear lavatory of the aircraft.
In another operation, a female passenger was arrested while allegedly smuggling 42 foreign-origin gold bars weighing around five kilograms on the Brahmaputra Mail in Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry said that during questioning, the woman admitted that the gold had been smuggled into India through Bangladesh.Several other operations were carried out in Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, and Guwahati, leading to the arrest of eight more persons.
Pertinently, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) regularly intercepts smuggled gold at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport. In recent coordinated operations, the DRI has busted several major smuggling syndicates, seizing tens of kilograms of foreign-origin gold and arresting carriers, local recipients, and corrupt airport staff facilitating the illicit deliveries.Notable recent intelligence-led seizures at CSMI Airport.
In current month DRI seized 5.1 kg of smuggled gold (valued at ₹7.49 crore) and arrested six people—three Philippine nationals and three airport outlet employees—who were operating a transit-smuggling ring originating from Bangkok. A female passenger arriving from Dubai was intercepted with 4 kg of foreign-marked gold bars (worth nearly ₹6 crore) concealed in her trousers.In June this year, under "Operation Golden Nexus," officers intercepted 3.2 kg of gold dust in wax form (valued at ₹5 crore), arresting seven individuals including Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals, coach drivers, and a local receiver.
In "Operation Dhahabu Blitz," 24 foreign nationals were held after DRI agents recovered 29.37 kg of gold bars and jewellery valued at ₹37 crore arriving from Nairobi in April 2026.
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