Ahmedabad Airport cargo heist: 8 arrested, Rs 2.58 cr gold jewellery recovered

Police at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport have busted a mid‑transit robbery of a high‑value gold jewellery consignment. The parcel, worth about Rs 2.58 crore (≈ US$300,000), was being shipped by Akasa Air to Bengaluru when it vanished. Investigators say the theft was orchestrated by airline and airport staff, including a cleaning supervisor, a security officer and a cargo handler, who moved the gold out of the secure zone and concealed it on a passenger’s luggage.

Eight suspects have been arrested, and authorities have recovered valuables exceeding Rs 1.72 crore, including gold bars, silver biscuits and cash. The breakthrough came after detailed analysis of CCTV footage, technical surveillance and human‑intelligence inputs. Police are continuing raids and interrogations to locate any remaining accomplices and to determine whether the stolen gold was melted and sold to jewelers.

The case has drawn attention to security lapses in airport cargo operations and is prompting a review of handling protocols for high‑value shipments.