DRI's Pan-India Gold Smuggling Crackdown Results in Major Seizures
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a series of coordinated operations across India, resulting in the seizure of approximately 41 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 62 crore and the arrest of 24 individuals, including three foreign nationals. The operations, conducted between August 30 and September 10, 2026, exposed sophisticated concealment methods and organized smuggling networks operating through airports, rail routes, and the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Detailed Operation Breakdown
In Delhi, DRI officers conducted simultaneous searches on September 7, 2026, at premises linked to gold procurement and conversion. They discovered a manufacturing facility with machinery for melting, rolling, and die-cutting gold at a residential premises, seizing four foreign-origin gold bars (1 kg each) and approximately 6.2 kg of gold chains made from smuggled gold bars, totaling 10.2 kg. One facility owner was arrested.
On September 8, 2026, DRI intercepted a vehicle coming from Punjab in Delhi, recovering 1.21 kg gold along with foreign currency valued at approximately Rs 43.50 lakh, leading to one arrest.
At the Indo-Bangladesh border on September 5-6, 2026, DRI in coordination with BSF seized 89 pieces of foreign-origin gold bars weighing approximately 11.3 kg from a person near BOP Halderpara. The individual was arrested under Customs Act, 1962 provisions after failing to produce lawful possession documents.
In West Bengal on September 3-4, 2026, DRI intercepted a passenger traveling under a false name at Howrah Railway Station, recovering four defaced foreign-origin gold bars weighing 4.6 kg from a specially designed cloth belt. Investigation revealed the gold was destined for Mumbai, resulting in two arrests.
In Mumbai on September 9-10, 2026, DRI busted a syndicate involving transit passengers and airport staff. After a 50 km pursuit, they intercepted an airport staff member possessing three capsules containing gold dust in wax form. Follow-up operations intercepted two transit passengers from Muscat and Dubai who were handing over five additional gold capsules to airport staff. In total, 8 capsules containing gold dust weighing 3.47 kg net weight were seized, and five persons were arrested, including two transit passengers, two airport staff members, and one recipient.
Additional operations included: seizure of 1.6 kg gold from a train passenger traveling from Kolkata to Mumbai (August 31 and September 6, 2026); recovery of a 700-gram arc-shaped 24-carat gold bar from a treadmill motor imported from Hong Kong, leading to arrests of two persons including a Chinese national; seizure of 22 foreign-origin gold bars weighing 2.56 kg concealed beneath a car gearbox in coordination with Chandauli Police, Uttar Pradesh (September 8-9, 2026); interception of a passenger with fake identity at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, recovering five gold bar cut-pieces weighing approximately 1 kg (September 8-9, 2026); seizure of 2.5 kg of 24-carat gold from eight capsules concealed rectally by two passengers arriving from Sri Lanka at Chennai International Airport, resulting in six arrests including airport staff collusion (August 30-September 1, 2026); and two separate operations at Calicut International Airport seizing 1.7 kg gold, including 770 grams concealed in an infant's diaper and approximately 1 kg hidden in a coffee machine's metallic ring portion (September 1-2, 2026).
All seizures were made under the Customs Act, 1962, with arrested persons facing relevant provisions of the act. The operations demonstrated organized networks exploiting transit routes, airport personnel, and innovative concealment methods including gold dust in wax form, machinery components, and personal concealment.