A passenger arriving from Dubai was among five people arrested after India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) uncovered an alleged gold smuggling operation at Mumbai airport. Gold worth around AED 2.4 million was seized.
MUMBAI: What started as a routine flight arriving from Dubai ended with a major gold seizure after Indian authorities uncovered what they describe as a well-planned smuggling operation involving a passenger, airport cleaning staff and alleged handlers waiting outside Mumbai airport.
According to India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), officers received intelligence that a passenger arriving on a flight from Dubai would allegedly hide gold inside the aircraft before leaving the plane, instead of attempting to carry it through customs.
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Officials monitored the flight closely. After passengers had disembarked, airport cleaning staff boarded the aircraft as part of their routine duties. Around 20 minutes later, two cleaners were stopped by DRI officers as they exited the aircraft.
During a search, officers allegedly recovered two unusually heavy pouches from one worker’s trouser pockets. The pouches were found to contain gold dust mixed with wax, valued at around AED 2.4 million (approx. ₹5.63 crore).
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Investigators say one of the workers admitted he had been asked by a colleague to retrieve the packets from a hidden spot inside the aircraft’s lavatory. The gold was then allegedly meant to be handed over to another member of the group waiting outside the airport.
Based on that information, DRI officers intercepted another suspect outside Mumbai airport before later arresting a fifth alleged member of the group. In total, five people were taken into custody, including the passenger, two airport cleaning staff and two alleged coordinators.
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Authorities said statements recorded during the investigation indicate the suspects were aware they were handling smuggled foreign-origin gold. Investigators are now examining whether the group was linked to a wider international smuggling network.
Lawyers representing some of the accused have denied the allegations, saying their clients did not know the gold was allegedly smuggled and would present documents to support their defence.
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Gold smuggling remains a challenge for Indian customs authorities because of price differences and import duties in various markets. Investigators say organised groups continue to use new methods to avoid detection, including hiding gold inside aircraft and relying on accomplices working inside airports.
The case remains under investigation.
-Agencies / FPJ
