A woman passenger arriving at Tiruchirappalli International Airport was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs after officials allegedly discovered 155 grams of 24-karat gold concealed in the knot of her saree.
According to officials from Trichy Customs (Preventive Commissionerate), the passenger was travelling on an IndiGo flight and was intercepted during routine surveillance operations at the airport on Thursday morning, May 28, 2026.
Customs authorities stated that the gold had been cleverly hidden inside the saree knot in an apparent attempt to evade detection during security and customs checks. Images released by the department showed small gold chains and wrapped packets recovered during the operation, along with the weighing scale indicating approximately 156 grams.
The seized gold is suspected to have been smuggled into the country in violation of the Customs Act. Officials confirmed that the contraband was recovered and seized under the provisions of the law.
The Air Intelligence Unit, which regularly monitors passengers arriving from international destinations, has intensified checks at southern airports amid repeated attempts to smuggle gold through innovative concealment methods. In recent months, customs authorities across the country have detected gold hidden in electronic items, clothing, body cavities, footwear, and food packets.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the origin of the gold, the intended recipients, and whether the passenger was acting independently or as part of a larger smuggling network.
Customs officials have not yet disclosed the estimated market value of the seized gold or the passenger’s identity.
