A discreet operation by a plain-clothed CISF intelligence officer at Surat International Airport has led to what officials are calling the largest gold smuggling interception at the facility to date.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Monday confirmed the seizure of 28 kilograms of gold paste from a middle-aged Indian couple who had landed at Surat from Dubai on the night of 20 July via Air India Flight IX-174.
Acting on a hunch formed through behavioural profiling, the officer noticed irregular movements and suspicious bulges around the abdominal area of the couple, both dressed in traditional Indian attire, the woman in a salwar suit and the man in a shirt and trousers.
"The duo, Gujarati residents, caught the officer's attention due to their unusual walking pattern and slight bulges around the abdominal area, which didn't match the natural body contour," the CISF said in a statement.
Maintaining surveillance, the officer quickly alerted senior Customs officials. The couple were then subjected to a detailed physical check at the international arrival area. The search uncovered gold paste meticulously strapped across their midsections and upper torsos.
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“The woman was carrying 16 kg of gold paste, while the man had 12 kg on him,” the statement said. “Based on concentration levels of the paste, officials estimate the pure gold yield to be over 20 kg. This is likely the biggest gold haul in the airport’s history.”
The smuggling bid underscores the evolving methods used to bypass detection at Indian airports, as well as the increasing reliance on behavioural observation over traditional profiling methods.
An official close to the investigation remarked, “This is likely the biggest gold haul in the airport’s history.” The CISF said the operation highlighted the “vital role of behavioural profiling and the strong synergy between CISF and Customs.”
The couple, both residents of Gujarat, are currently under the custody of Customs for further interrogation.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether this attempt is linked to a larger smuggling syndicate.
This interception at Surat is one of the biggest airport-specific seizures in India. However, the largest-ever gold bust in the country occurred in Mumbai’s Dongri in 2019, where the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a staggering 106.9 kg of smuggled gold from a syndicate linked to Dubai-based operatives. Other notable cases include a 61.08 kg haul across four states in 2024, and a 48.2 kg seizure at Surat Airport in 2023 under “Operation Goldmine”.
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