Officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, detected and booked multiple smuggling cases involving narcotic drugs, gold, diamonds and foreign currency during the period 21 January 2026 to 29 January 2026, leading to seizures worth over ₹35 crore and several arrests.
Major NDPS Seizures Based on Profiling and Intelligence
Based on spot profiling and APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) analysis, Customs officers booked two cases of Hydroponic Weed smuggling, recovering a total of 10.561 kg of suspected narcotic substance valued at approximately ₹10.561 crore in the illicit market. The contraband was recovered from two passengers arriving from Bangkok, both of whom were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In addition, acting on specific intelligence inputs, Customs officers booked two more NDPS cases, resulting in the recovery of 15.961 kg of suspected Hydroponic Weed valued at approximately ₹15.961 crore from two additional passengers, also arriving from Bangkok. The accused were arrested under the NDPS Act.
Modus Operandi
In all NDPS cases, the smugglers attempted to conceal the hydroponic weed inside trolley bags carried by them.
Gold Smuggling Involving Airport Staff Detected
Apart from NDPS cases, Customs officers booked a significant gold smuggling case on 27 January 2026, involving a Bangladeshi transit passenger and an airport staff member. In this case, 1470 grams of 24-carat gold, valued at approximately ₹2.1 crore, was recovered.
Investigations revealed that the contraband gold was handed over by the transit passenger to staff of Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (HRPL) working at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport. Both the Bangladeshi passenger and the airport staff member were arrested.
Modus Operandi
The gold was smuggled by concealing it inside the body cavity.
Multiple Other Gold Seizures
In addition, Customs officers booked four separate gold smuggling cases, recovering a total of 2162 grams of 24-carat gold, valued at approximately ₹2.89 crore, from four passengers.
Modus Operandi
The smugglers concealed the gold inside the clothes worn by them to evade detection.
Diamond Smuggling Case Detected
Customs officers also booked one diamond smuggling case, in which 10,660 carats (2132 grams) of diamonds, valued at approximately ₹1.81 crore, were recovered from one passenger.
Modus Operandi
The diamonds were concealed inside the check-in baggage.
Foreign Currency Smuggling Cases
Further, three foreign currency smuggling cases were booked, resulting in the recovery of foreign currency equivalent to ₹1.18 crore from four passengers.
Modus Operandi
The foreign currency was concealed inside check-in and hand baggage.
Ongoing Investigation
Customs authorities stated that further investigations are underway to identify syndicates, linkages and possible involvement of insiders. The Airport Commissionerate reiterated its commitment to curbing smuggling activities through intelligence-led operations, profiling techniques and strict enforcement of customs and narcotics laws.
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