The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 27 kg of foreign-origin smuggled gold and arrested 12 people in a series of intelligence-led operations spanning multiple cities across India, according to an official statement released on Saturday, 25 July. The week-long crackdown, confirmed by the Finance Ministry, exposed increasingly sophisticated concealment techniques used by organised gold smuggling networks.

Key Seizures and Arrests

In one of the largest individual recoveries, DRI officers at Mumbai intercepted three passengers arriving from Addis Ababa on 23–24 July and recovered six foreign-origin gold bars weighing approximately 12 kg, concealed inside the ceiling panels of an aircraft's rear lavatory. Investigators found that the passengers had hidden the gold for later retrieval by airport staff. All three were arrested.

A separate intelligence-led operation at Mumbai Airport on 22–23 July dismantled a syndicate that had concealed 3.7 kg of gold dust in wax form inside an aircraft lavatory, intended for collection by compromised aircraft cleaning staff. Five people were arrested in that operation — including the carrier, cleaning staff members, a handler, and a recipient.

Rail and Border Routes Targeted

In Uttar Pradesh, DRI officers intercepted a woman travelling aboard the Brahmaputra Mail on 23 July and recovered 42 foreign-origin gold bars weighing around 5 kg, hidden in a waist belt and inside her handbag. During questioning, she reportedly admitted that the gold had been smuggled into India via Bangladesh. She was arrested and the gold seized.

Between 19 and 20 July, DRI officers at Kolkata Railway Station intercepted a passenger and recovered 4.6 kg of foreign-origin gold concealed inside specially fabricated utensils — a technique that points to the use of pre-planned, customised smuggling infrastructure.

Operations in Cochin and Guwahati

The agency also conducted separate operations in Cochin and Guwahati, recovering approximately 2 kg of foreign-origin gold in total. While details of those operations remain limited, the recoveries indicate that smuggling routes extend well beyond the major metro airports.

What the Operations Reveal

The coordinated crackdown highlights the evolving modus operandi of gold smuggling networks — from concealment inside aircraft lavatories and specially fabricated vehicle cavities to body-worn carriers and tampered utensils. Notably, the involvement of airport cleaning staff in the Mumbai operation points to the infiltration of ground-level airport personnel by smuggling syndicates, raising questions about insider threat protocols at Indian airports.

This comes amid sustained pressure on the DRI to curb illicit precious metal inflows, which authorities say distort the legitimate bullion market and deprive the exchequer of customs revenue. The DRI stated that the coordinated operations reflect its ongoing commitment to dismantling organised smuggling networks and stemming the illegal flow of precious metals into the country. Further investigations are underway.