The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), a wing of the Ministry of Finance, has seized approximately 21 kilograms of foreign gold valued at over Rs 32 crore across two separate operations. Five persons have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962. The seizures highlight the agency’s efforts to dismantle smuggling networks that bring gold into India through illegal routes.
Key facts
- 15.18 kg of gold bars worth Rs 23.30 crore recovered from two vehicles on 19 September 2026
- 5.8 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 8.7 crore seized from a bus passenger on 16 September 2026
- First operation: Vehicles intercepted near Palwal Toll Plaza on the Delhi-Haryana border
- Second operation: Passenger intercepted at Jewar Toll Plaza while travelling from Gorakhpur to Delhi
- Gold in first case smuggled from Myanmar; gold in second case sourced from Kathmandu
- In the preceding three weeks, DRI seized 123 kg gold and 10 kg silver worth Rs 187 crore across multiple operations
- 58 persons arrested for gold smuggling in the same three-week period
How the smuggling was detected
In the first operation on 19 September, DRI officers received specific intelligence about suspicious vehicle movements. Two brand-new Thar vehicles were intercepted near Palwal Toll Plaza. Smugglers had created an ingenious concealment by carefully removing a section of the vehicle chassis over the rear wheel, hiding the gold inside, and then welding it back. This method was difficult to detect visually. Only after thorough and systematic examination did officers locate and remove 15.18 kg of gold bars from both vehicles combined. Four persons accompanying these vehicles were arrested.
In the second operation on 16 September, DRI officers stopped a passenger bus at Jewar Toll Plaza on the outskirts of Delhi. A person travelling from Gorakhpur was identified during screening. A personal search revealed 5.8 kg of gold—five one-kilogram bars and approximately 800 grams of cut pieces—concealed inside a specially designed cotton waist belt. One person was arrested in this case.
Smuggling routes and sources
Investigation showed that the gold seized from the vehicles had been smuggled from Myanmar, indicating an active smuggling corridor from Southeast Asia into India through land routes. The gold intercepted from the bus passenger had been handed to him in Kathmandu, Nepal, and brought into India through the India-Nepal land border—a common route for smuggling due to porous borders and high demand for gold within India.
Broader crackdown context
These two operations are part of a larger enforcement drive by the DRI. In the three weeks preceding these seizures, the agency seized 123 kg of gold and 10 kg of silver collectively valued at more than Rs 187 crore. During the same period, 58 persons were arrested on charges related to gold smuggling. This scale of operations indicates that organised smuggling networks are active and the DRI is dedicating significant resources to intercept contraband before it enters the market.
Why gold smuggling matters
Gold smuggling reduces customs revenue for the government and bypasses legitimate import duties and taxes. It also fuels organised crime and can be linked to money laundering. India is one of the world’s largest gold consumers, and the high price difference between international markets and Indian prices—due to import duties—creates incentive for illegal import. Customs duty on imported gold is currently 15 percent, making smuggled gold significantly cheaper.
What this means for you
If you are a gold buyer or jeweller, awareness of such seizures shows that law enforcement is active. Purchasing gold only through licensed dealers and registered jewellers ensures you avoid unknowingly buying smuggled metal, which can lead to legal complications. For those engaged in business involving precious metals, the DRI’s increased vigilance underscores the legal and financial risks of any involvement in smuggling networks.
What happens next
The five arrested persons will face prosecution under the Customs Act, 1962. Cases are under investigation to identify the larger smuggling rings and the routes through which gold enters India. The DRI has indicated it will continue its focus on detecting and disrupting organised smuggling networks and investigating increasingly sophisticated concealment methods.