The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, operating under the Ministry of Finance, has announced a series of coordinated operations that have resulted in the seizure of approximately 41 kilograms of smuggled gold valued at around Rs 62 crore. The crackdown led to the arrest of 24 individuals, including three foreign nationals, and has exposed the complex networks and concealment methods used by smugglers across India’s airports, railway stations, and land borders.
Details of the operations
Between 31 August and 10 September 2026, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence conducted six separate intelligence-led operations across multiple states. The seizures include:
- In Delhi, 10.2 kg of gold was recovered from a manufacturing facility equipped with machinery for processing smuggled gold, resulting in one arrest.
- At the Indo-Bangladesh border near Halderpara, 11.3 kg of foreign-origin gold bars were seized from a person who could not produce legal possession documents.
- At Howrah Railway Station in West Bengal, four defaced gold bars weighing 4.6 kg were found concealed in a specially designed body belt.
- At Mumbai Airport, 3.47 kg of gold in paste form was recovered from eight capsules, involving the arrest of five persons including airport staff and transit passengers.
- Smaller seizures of 1 kg or less were made at various airports and railway routes, including gold hidden inside appliances such as treadmill motors and coffee machine components.
The operations revealed that smugglers use sophisticated methods including body concealment, specially designed containers, hidden compartments in imported goods, and collaboration with airport and transit personnel.
What this means for you
These operations demonstrate that gold smuggling remains a significant law enforcement concern in India, with networks operating across multiple entry points. If you travel internationally or receive goods from abroad, awareness of these enforcement activities is relevant, as authorities are actively monitoring concealment methods. The involvement of airport staff in some cases suggests that even routine airport procedures are under scrutiny to prevent illicit precious metal movement into the country.