CISF seizes 1.21 kg gold, ₹1.97 lakh cash at IGI Airport Terminal-1
Synopsis
A Kolkata-bound passenger was caught at IGI Airport's Terminal-1 with 1.21 kg of gold hidden in clothing and ₹1.97 lakh in unaccounted cash — and then allegedly tried to bribe the CISF personnel on the spot. The attempt failed, the bribe was reported, and the passenger was handed to the Income Tax Department. It is the second major airport smuggling interception in India within two weeks.
Key Takeaways
CISF intercepted a Kolkata-bound passenger at IGI Airport Terminal-1 on 17 June .
Seized items: 1.210 kg of gold concealed in clothing and ₹1,97,200 in unaccounted cash.
The passenger allegedly attempted to bribe on-duty CISF personnel , who rejected the offer and reported it to senior authorities.
The passenger and seized items were handed over to the Income Tax Department for investigation.
On 4 June , CISF also seized USD 1,45,000 (approx ₹1.39 crore) in undeclared foreign currency from a foreign national at Mumbai Airport .
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Terminal-1 of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, intercepted a passenger on Wednesday, 17 June, after personnel observed suspicious behaviour during routine security screening. A thorough frisking revealed 1.210 kg of gold concealed in the passenger's clothing, along with ₹1,97,200 in unaccounted cash — neither of which the passenger could document or explain satisfactorily.
How the Interception Unfolded
The passenger, who was scheduled to travel from New Delhi to Kolkata, came under scrutiny after CISF personnel flagged irregular behaviour at the security checkpoint. Upon detailed frisking, the contraband gold and cash were found concealed on the person. When questioned, the passenger failed to produce any valid documentation for the seized items.
According to officials, the passenger subsequently attempted to influence on-duty CISF personnel to avoid legal action — an offer that was firmly rejected. The personnel promptly escalated the matter to senior authorities, drawing praise for their conduct.
Passenger Handed Over to Income Tax Department
The passenger, along with the seized 1.210 kg of gold and ₹1,97,200 in cash, was handed over to the Income Tax Department for further investigation and legal proceedings. No formal charges were publicly detailed at the time of reporting, but the matter is under active inquiry.
Earlier Seizure at Mumbai Airport on 4 June
This interception follows a separate CISF operation at Mumbai Airport on 4 June, where personnel recovered illicit foreign currency worth approximately ₹1.39 crore — equivalent to USD 1,45,000 — from a foreign national travelling to Addis Ababa. The individual came under scrutiny when X-ray baggage screening flagged suspicious objects in hand luggage. On closer examination, the unaccounted foreign currency was found concealed in a bag and subsequently seized. The foreign national was taken into custody and handed over to Customs officials at the airport for further interrogation and action.
CISF's Role in Airport Security
The CISF is the primary security force responsible for protecting India's civil aviation infrastructure, covering major international and domestic airports. Both interceptions underscore a pattern of attempted smuggling — gold concealment and undeclared foreign currency — at high-traffic airport nodes. Notably, this is at least the second such reported seizure at Indian airports within a fortnight, pointing to continued pressure on airport security channels from smuggling attempts.
Officials reiterated the force's commitment to its stated mandate of ensuring 'Safe Airports, Secure Nation', with the two recent cases highlighting the role of X-ray baggage screening and behavioural observation in detecting contraband before it clears security perimeters.
Point of View
Foreign currency at Mumbai — suggest smuggling attempts at Indian airports are not isolated incidents but a persistent pressure point. What stands out in the Delhi case is not just the interception but the reported bribery attempt, which, if verified, points to a brazenness that warrants closer scrutiny of how frequently such attempts occur and how often they go unreported. The handover to the Income Tax Department rather than Customs also raises questions about jurisdictional clarity in airport smuggling cases — a procedural gap that enforcement agencies may need to address publicly.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CISF seize at IGI Airport on 17 June?
CISF personnel at Terminal-1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport seized 1.210 kg of gold concealed in a passenger's clothing and ₹1,97,200 in unaccounted cash on 17 June. The passenger was Kolkata-bound and could not produce valid documents for the items.
What happened to the passenger caught at IGI Airport?
The passenger was handed over to the Income Tax Department along with the seized gold and cash for further investigation and legal action. The passenger had also allegedly attempted to bribe on-duty CISF personnel, who reported the attempt to senior authorities.
What was the Mumbai airport seizure on 4 June?
On 4 June, CISF intercepted a foreign national at Mumbai Airport who was carrying USD 1,45,000 (approximately ₹1.39 crore) in undeclared foreign currency in hand luggage. The individual was travelling to Addis Ababa and was handed over to Customs officials for interrogation.
How did CISF detect the smuggled gold at IGI Airport?
CISF personnel noticed suspicious behaviour during routine security screening at Terminal-1, which prompted a detailed frisking. The frisking revealed the gold concealed in the passenger's clothing along with unaccounted cash.
Which agency is responsible for airport security in India?
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is the primary agency responsible for security at India's civil aviation infrastructure, including major international and domestic airports. It operates under the mandate of 'Safe Airports, Secure Nation'.
