India's DRI dismantles gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai airport

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in India arrested nine members of a sophisticated gold‑smuggling network that operated through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, including a female airport employee. The operation also uncovered a gold‑melting facility used to process the foreign‑origin gold.

Across coordinated raids in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Rajkot, Calicut, Visakhapatnam, Guwahati and Petrapole, authorities seized about 15 kg of gold and 45 kg of silver valued at roughly Rs 23 crore, along with cash and currency. Additional seizures included 1.8 kg of 24‑kt gold paste hidden in a passenger’s clothing in Bengaluru, and 1.5 kg of gold jewellery and further silver. Earlier, on May 20, DRI’s “Operation Golden Drop” intercepted three kg of gold worth Rs 4.8 crore, seized in egg‑shaped capsules that passengers had ingested.

In total, 15 individuals were arrested in the series of operations targeting the smuggling chain.