In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, Customs officers at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, have seized gold worth ₹1.3 crore and arrested one individual. The accused, an Indian passport holder, arrived from Jeddah via Kuwait on Flight No. KU 383 on February 24, 2025.
Gold Smuggling Attempt Foiled at IGI Airport
The passenger was intercepted after crossing the Green Channel at the international arrivals hall in Terminal 3. Upon suspicion, Customs officials diverted him for an X-ray screening, leading to a thorough personal search and baggage examination.
Gold Concealed in Chemical Paste Form
The investigation revealed that the accused had smuggled gold in chemical paste form, concealed in:
- A pouch wrapped in white adhesive tape, hidden in his underwear.
- A pair of socks placed inside his baggage.
Following the extraction process, officials recovered one irregularly shaped gold bar weighing 1,585 grams. The seized gold was appraised at a tariff value of ₹1,30,46,056 (Rupees One Crore Thirty Lakh Forty-Six Thousand and Fifty-Six only).
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The passenger confessed to smuggling the gold paste from Jeddah. The seized gold has been confiscated under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, while the accused has been arrested under Section 104 of the same act.
Authorities have launched a detailed probe into the case to identify any potential links to organized smuggling syndicates.
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