Customs officers at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Hong Kong and recovered four luxury watches valued at ₹52.54 lakh in an alleged smuggling attempt.
According to the Customs update, the passenger arrived on flight AI-315 on October 11, 2026, and was intercepted at the Green Channel following spot profiling by officers.
Buy Now: 80+ Judgements Indirect Tax – September 2026 E-Magazine
Suspicious Baggage Scan Leads to Recovery
During baggage scanning, officers noticed suspicious images indicating the presence of watches. A subsequent personal and baggage search led to the recovery of four luxury watches belonging to the Rolex, Cartier and Omega brands.
The passenger could not produce invoices or other documents establishing lawful possession or import of the recovered watches, Customs stated.
A Chartered Engineer assessed their combined value at ₹52,54,690. The update did not specify the individual models or the value of each watch.
Watches Seized Under Customs Act
Customs officers seized the watches under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, on the ground that they were liable to confiscation under Section 111 of the Act.
According to the department, the passenger admitted in a statement recorded under Section 108 that he had attempted to bring the watches into India without proper documentation.
The interception followed passenger profiling, baggage scanning and a detailed search, which together led to the detection of the luxury watches before the passenger cleared the Green Channel.
Further investigation is underway. The Customs update does not mention an arrest or a final confiscation order.
