Gold worth ₹4.26 crore seized from IndiGo flight from Dubai at Ahmedabad Airport
Synopsis
Customs officers found ₹4.26 crore worth of 24-carat gold biscuits hidden in a speaker box inside an IndiGo aircraft's lavatory after it landed from Dubai — with no one willing to claim them. It is the latest in a growing series of gold smuggling attempts on the Dubai–Ahmedabad route, raising questions about organised networks exploiting Gulf air corridors.
Key Takeaways
24 gold biscuits of 999.0 purity (24 carat) weighing 2,799.3 grams and valued at ₹4.26 crore were seized from IndiGo flight 6E-1478 arriving from Dubai .
The gold was hidden in two pouches wrapped in black plastic tape inside a speaker box in the aircraft's front lavatory .
No individual claimed ownership; the gold was seized as unclaimed contraband under the Customs Act, 1962 .
Investigators are probing links to a larger Gulf-route smuggling network .
Earlier in February 2025 , separate cases at the same airport yielded 601.9 grams (₹96.06 lakh) and 945.57 grams (₹1.52 crore) of gold.
Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad seized 24 foreign-origin gold biscuits weighing 2,799.3 grams and valued at ₹4.26 crore after they were found concealed inside an IndiGo aircraft that had arrived from Dubai, officials confirmed on Friday, 13 June. The contraband was recovered during a rummaging operation aboard IndiGo flight 6E-1478 and no one came forward to claim it.
How the Gold Was Found
Customs officers, assisted by aircraft engineers, conducted a thorough search of the aircraft and discovered two pouches wrapped in black plastic tape concealed inside a speaker box in the front lavatory. The pouches contained 24 gold biscuits of 999.0 purity (24 carat) with a combined weight of 2,799.3 grams.
'On examination, the pouches were found to contain 24 gold biscuits of 999.0 purity (24 carat) with a combined weight of 2,799.3 grams. The gold was valued at ₹4,26,89,325 in the domestic market,' officials said.
Smuggling Attempt and Legal Action
Customs authorities said the manner of concealment pointed clearly to a deliberate attempt to smuggle the gold into India in violation of the Customs Act, 1962. Since no individual came forward to claim ownership, the gold was seized as unclaimed contraband under the relevant provisions of the Act.
Investigators are now working to identify the person or persons responsible and to establish whether the haul is connected to a larger smuggling network operating on Gulf routes.
Pattern of Gold Smuggling at Ahmedabad Airport
The seizure is the latest in a string of gold smuggling cases detected at SVPIA in recent months. This comes amid what officials describe as a steady stream of such attempts in recent years.
In February this year, Customs officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Dubai and recovered 601.9 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹96.06 lakh, including gold concealed in paste form inside the passenger's clothing. In a separate February case, four women passengers arriving from Jeddah were apprehended and 945.57 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery — rhodium-coated chains and bangles — valued at ₹1.52 crore was seized after allegedly being concealed to evade detection.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not yet named any suspect in the latest case. The investigation is focused on tracing the origin of the concealed gold and mapping any organised smuggling chain that may be exploiting the Dubai–Ahmedabad air corridor. Further developments are expected as the probe progresses.
Point of View
Which shifts culpability away from any single traveller and makes prosecution harder. The repeated pattern at Ahmedabad — three significant seizures in under six months — suggests Customs is detecting more, but also that the volume of attempts is rising. The real question is whether enforcement is keeping pace with the network, or whether seized hauls represent only a fraction of what is getting through.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized from the IndiGo flight at Ahmedabad Airport?
Customs officials seized 24 gold biscuits of 999.0 purity (24 carat) weighing 2,799.3 grams and valued at ₹4.26 crore. The gold was found hidden in two pouches inside a speaker box in the front lavatory of IndiGo flight 6E-1478, which had arrived from Dubai.
How was the gold concealed on the IndiGo aircraft?
The gold was wrapped in two pouches covered in black plastic tape and stuffed inside a speaker box in the aircraft's front lavatory. The method of concealment indicated a deliberate smuggling attempt, according to Customs authorities.
Was anyone arrested in connection with the gold seizure?
No individual came forward to claim ownership of the gold. It was seized as unclaimed contraband under the Customs Act, 1962, and an investigation is underway to identify those responsible and determine links to a wider smuggling network.
Is gold smuggling a recurring problem at Ahmedabad Airport?
Yes. The seizure is the latest in a series of gold smuggling cases at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. In February 2025 alone, two separate cases yielded 601.9 grams worth ₹96.06 lakh and 945.57 grams worth ₹1.52 crore, both involving passengers from Gulf destinations.
What law was invoked to seize the gold?
The gold was seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, which governs the import and export of goods and penalises smuggling of foreign-origin items into India.
