Mumbai Airport Gold Smuggling Ring Cracked: 13 Arrested, Over Rs. 12 Crore Seized

Based on information from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), during an operation called “Operation Golden Sweep,” foreign nationals, airport staff, and other members of an international gold smuggling group were caught at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport in Mumbai. The authorities seized 10.488 kg of 24-carat gold from abroad, worth about Rs. 12.58 crore.

In this operation, the DRI broke a well-organized gold smuggling network and arrested 13 people. This included two Bangladeshis, six Sri Lankans, two airport staff working for a meet-and-greet service, two handlers, and the mastermind based in Mumbai.

Investigations announced that a transnational syndicate adopted a sophisticated modus operandi wherein transit passengers from Dubai to Singapore, Bangkok, and Dhaka through Mumbai acted as carriers, hiding gold in egg-shaped wax capsules inside their bodies.

When transit passengers arrived in Mumbai, they secretly handed over smuggled gold to airport staff inside the international departure area. The staff then took the gold out of the airport and delivered it to handlers, who worked with the mastermind.

The syndicate, run by people in Mumbai and Dubai, used passengers, airport staff, baggage handlers, and multiple middlemen to move the gold.

This operation shows that the DRI has good intelligence and acts quickly to catch new smuggling methods. It also shows the danger of insider threats, as gangs try to use airport staff to make money.

Further investigation is ongoing.