DRI seizes 3 kg gold worth ₹4.8 crore at Mumbai airport in Operation Golden Drop
Synopsis
DRI's Operation Golden Drop at Mumbai's CSMI Airport cracked open a network where gold dust — moulded into wax and hidden inside body-ingested capsules — was ferried in by transit passengers and handed off to an airport food-outlet employee. The ₹4.8 crore seizure, coming just six days after a ₹5.7 crore diamond bust at the same airport, points to a sustained exploitation of insider access and transit loopholes at one of India's busiest air hubs.
Key Takeaways
The DRI Mumbai seized 3 kg of foreign-origin gold worth approximately ₹4.8 crore at CSMI Airport on 20 May 2025 .
The operation, codenamed 'Operation Golden Drop' , led to the arrest of one accused .
Gold dust was converted into wax, packed into egg-shaped capsules , and allegedly ingested by transit passengers for concealment.
A cleaning staff member at an airport food outlet was arrested for allegedly receiving and smuggling the gold out of the airport.
On 14 May , the same DRI unit had seized diamonds worth over ₹5.7 crore — 1,624 carats — from the same airport, arresting two persons.
Both cases point to a pattern of organised transnational syndicates exploiting insider networks and transit channels at CSMI Airport .
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, on Wednesday, 20 May, dismantled a highly organised gold smuggling syndicate operating through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport under a targeted operation codenamed 'Operation Golden Drop'. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officers intercepted and seized 3 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at approximately ₹4.8 crore and arrested one accused.
How the Smuggling Network Operated
Investigations have revealed a sophisticated and meticulously coordinated modus operandi. The smuggled gold dust was reportedly converted into wax form and concealed inside specially designed egg-shaped capsules, which were allegedly ingested and carried into Mumbai by transit passengers.
According to DRI officials, the smuggled gold was subsequently received by a cleaning staff member employed at a food outlet within the airport premises. The employee allegedly facilitated the clandestine removal and delivery of the gold outside the airport. The accused has since been arrested.
What the Operation Exposed
Officials stated that Operation Golden Drop exposed an organised network that exploited transit passenger channels and airport support systems to smuggle gold into the country while evading customs duties and regulatory scrutiny. The operation also highlighted what DRI described as the involvement of airport insiders — a dimension that raises broader concerns about security protocols at one of India's busiest international airports.
Notably, this is not an isolated incident. The operation assumes added significance amid the government's ongoing efforts to curb gold smuggling and safeguard foreign exchange reserves, particularly in the context of elevated customs duties on gold imports.
Context: A Pattern of Seizures at CSMI Airport
The gold bust follows a similar operation at the same airport just days earlier. On 14 May, the DRI, Mumbai, seized diamonds worth over ₹5.7 crore from CSMI Airport and arrested two persons allegedly attempting to smuggle them to Bangkok. In that case, both passengers admitted to concealing two capsules each inside their bodies; the capsules were subsequently purged, leading to the recovery of 1,624 carats of diamonds — a mix of natural and lab-grown stones. Both accused were arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Officials had indicated that the diamond smuggling operation appeared to have links to international money laundering activities, and further investigation into that syndicate remains ongoing.
DRI's Response and Next Steps
The DRI said the twin operations underscored its strong intelligence network, swift operational response, and coordinated enforcement action against transnational smuggling syndicates and insiders embedded within airport systems. Further investigation into the gold smuggling case is underway, with authorities expected to probe the broader network behind the transit-passenger pipeline.
Point of View
Both body-carried, both involving insiders — suggest this is less a series of isolated incidents and more a systemic vulnerability. The use of airport support staff as the final link in the smuggling chain is the detail that should alarm policymakers: it means the threat is not just at the perimeter but inside the sterile zone. DRI's intelligence capability is clearly functioning, but the frequency of these busts also raises the question of how many runs succeed before one is intercepted. With customs duties on gold elevated specifically to conserve foreign exchange, the economic incentive for smugglers is at a premium — and enforcement alone cannot substitute for a structural review of insider vetting at major airports.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Golden Drop and what did it uncover?
Operation Golden Drop is a targeted enforcement operation conducted by the DRI Mumbai at CSMI Airport on 20 May 2025. It led to the seizure of 3 kg of foreign-origin gold worth approximately ₹4.8 crore and the arrest of one accused, exposing a network that used transit passengers and an airport insider to smuggle gold.
How was the gold being smuggled into Mumbai?
According to DRI, the gold dust was converted into wax form and packed into specially designed egg-shaped capsules, which transit passengers allegedly ingested and carried into Mumbai. A cleaning staff member at an airport food outlet then allegedly received and moved the gold outside the airport.
Who was arrested in connection with the gold seizure?
One accused — a cleaning staff member employed at a food outlet within CSMI Airport — has been arrested for allegedly receiving the smuggled gold and helping deliver it outside the airport. The transit passengers involved were also intercepted by DRI officers.
Is this the first such seizure at CSMI Airport recently?
No. Just six days earlier, on 14 May 2025, the DRI Mumbai seized diamonds worth over ₹5.7 crore — totalling 1,624 carats — from the same airport and arrested two persons who had concealed capsules inside their bodies. Authorities have indicated that case may have links to international money laundering.
Why is gold smuggling a priority enforcement area right now?
The government has raised customs duties on gold imports to conserve foreign exchange, which has increased the profit incentive for smugglers. DRI officials noted that curbing gold smuggling is a key part of broader efforts to protect the country's economic interests and prevent duty evasion.
