[REVISION HISTORY]

DRI gold smuggling enforcement in India

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2026-10-12 11:46 UTC → 2026-10-19 14:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has conducted multiple operations targeting international gold-smuggling syndicates in India. In early September, DRI officials at the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex intercepted a consignment from Hong Kong, discovering 691.870 grams of 24-carat gold concealed within a treadmill motor. This operation led to the arrest of a Chinese national and an individual managing the importing firm. Subsequent operations saw larger seizures, including 3.5 kg of gold dust valued at approximately Rs 5.5 crore at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International ~~Airport~~ Airport, involving two airport staffers and ~~2.165 kg of gold bars intercepted on~~ two passengers. On a train via the India-Bangladesh ~~border.~~ border, the DRI Nagpur team intercepted 2.165 kg of gold bars worth roughly Rs 3.09 crore. In late September, the DRI dismantled a smuggling ring at Mumbai Airport by seizing 9.40 kilograms of foreign gold valued at 14.81 crore rupees. On September 23 and 24, simultaneous raids in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Guwahati led to the seizure of approximately 6.6 kg of gold valued at over Rs 10 crore. In early October, officials seized 1.3 kg of gold biscuits valued at Rs 1.8 crore after discovering them concealed on luggage trolleys used by passengers from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additionally, the DRI Siliguri Regional Unit intercepted 8.352 kg of gold biscuits worth approximately Rs 12.36 crore near the India-Bangladesh border, resulting in four arrests in Cooch Behar. ~~On the night of October 8-9,~~ In mid-October, customs officials ~~intercepted a vehicle traveling from Kolkata to Hyderabad near Visakhapatnam following a high-speed chase. They discovered 5.832~~ at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport seized 3.20 kg of ~~24-carat~~ gold ~~with 999 purity~~ rods hidden in inside a ~~specially fabricated cavity beneath~~ floor spring. Simultaneously, the ~~front passenger seat, valued at approximately Rs 8.98 crore. Two individuals were~~ DRI arrested three individuals and ~~remanded to judicial custody. Preliminary investigations suggest the gold was smuggled into India via the India-Bangladesh border. In separate intelligence-led operations across eastern India, the DRI~~ seized ~~an additional 7.8~~ 13.017 kg of foreign-origin gold ~~valued at over~~ worth approximately Rs ~~11.5 crore, including 6.8 kg of gold bars~~ 19.41 crore through operations targeting syndicates at ~~the Dankuni Toll Plaza~~ Ahmedabad and Surat airports. The syndicate utilized concealment methods such as rhodium-coated gold wires and gold paste hidden in ~~West Bengal.~~ bag shells, transporting contraband to an illegal melting facility in Vadodara.

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