Ahmedabad Airport gold seizure: 300 grams worth ₹49.23 lakh caught in 3 flights
Synopsis
In a single day, Ahmedabad Customs caught three separate groups of passengers — arriving from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait — attempting to smuggle nearly 300 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹49.23 lakh. Coming just two days after a 499-gram haul from the same airport, the cluster of seizures signals a sharp intensification of AIU surveillance on Gulf-origin routes.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Customs seized 299.490 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹49,23,602 on 26 August 2025 .
Three separate cases involved passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi , Sharjah , and Kuwait .
The largest single seizure was 140.030 grams (₹23.41 lakh) from a couple on Air Arabia flight G9-418 from Sharjah.
All interceptions were made by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) through passenger profiling.
The seizures follow a 499.540-gram gold haul from the same airport just two days earlier, also on a Sharjah route.
Further investigation is under way; passengers face adjudication under the Customs Act, 1962 .
Ahmedabad Customs officials seized nearly 300 grams of concealed gold jewellery worth ₹49.23 lakh from passengers arriving on three international flights at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 26 August, following targeted passenger profiling by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU). The interceptions covered flights originating from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait.
Three Separate Cases, One Pattern
The combined seizure totalled 299.490 grams of gold jewellery — comprising 240.090 grams of 24-carat gold and 59.400 grams of 22-carat gold — with a combined market value of ₹49,23,602. All three cases were detected through AIU profiling and subsequent examination of passengers on arrival.
In the first case, a woman arriving from Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways flight EY-246 was found carrying two concealed gold chains weighing 100.060 grams of 24-carat purity, valued at ₹16,72,003. The jewellery was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
The second case involved a couple arriving from Sharjah on Air Arabia flight G9-418. Officers recovered four gold bangles and two gold chains with a combined weight of 140.030 grams, all of 24-carat purity, valued at ₹23,41,739 — the largest single seizure of the three incidents.
In the third case, a woman arriving from Kuwait on Kuwait Airways flight KU-347 was found carrying one gold necklace, two earrings, one ring, and a chain with pendant, collectively weighing 59.400 grams of 22-carat gold, valued at ₹9,09,860.
Part of a Larger Enforcement Trend
The latest seizures come just two days after Ahmedabad Customs intercepted a woman arriving from Sharjah with a 499.540-gram, 24-carat gold chain allegedly concealed inside her high-neck sweater — also detected through AIU passenger profiling. The back-to-back incidents point to a sustained pattern of attempted gold smuggling through the airport on Gulf-origin routes.
Notably, all five passengers in Wednesday's cases were intercepted on routes from the Gulf region, which has historically been a primary corridor for gold smuggling into India owing to lower gold prices and higher demand differentials.
How the AIU Operates
The Air Intelligence Unit operates as a specialised wing of Customs, using behavioural cues, travel history, and risk-profiling data to flag passengers for secondary examination. Officials said all interceptions on 26 August were carried out after passengers arrived at the airport, indicating the gold was detected during baggage and personal examination rather than in-transit screening.
What Happens Next
All seized jewellery has been taken into custody under the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation into the three cases is under way, according to officials. The passengers involved are expected to face adjudication proceedings under customs law, which can include penalties and potential prosecution depending on the quantum of concealment.
Point of View
Driven by persistent price arbitrage, and Wednesday's haul confirms the AIU's profiling tools are sharper than ever. What the numbers also reveal, however, is that demand for clandestine import remains robust despite rising domestic gold prices. The real deterrent question is not whether Customs can catch smugglers — clearly they can — but whether adjudication penalties are steep enough to price out the risk for would-be carriers.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gold was seized at Ahmedabad Airport on 26 August?
Ahmedabad Customs seized a total of 299.490 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹49,23,602 on 26 August 2025. The haul comprised 240.090 grams of 24-carat gold and 59.400 grams of 22-carat gold, recovered across three separate cases.
Which flights were involved in the Ahmedabad gold seizure?
The three flights involved were Etihad Airways flight EY-246 from Abu Dhabi, Air Arabia flight G9-418 from Sharjah, and Kuwait Airways flight KU-347 from Kuwait. All landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
How did Customs detect the concealed gold?
The interceptions were carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) using passenger profiling techniques. Officers examined the passengers after arrival, detecting the jewellery concealed on their persons or in their baggage.
Was this a one-off incident or part of a larger trend?
The seizures are part of a recent cluster at the same airport. Just two days earlier, on 24 August, Ahmedabad Customs had intercepted a woman arriving from Sharjah with a 499.540-gram gold chain allegedly hidden inside her high-neck sweater, also flagged through AIU profiling.
What legal action will the passengers face?
All seized jewellery has been taken into custody under the Customs Act, 1962. The passengers are expected to face adjudication proceedings, which can include financial penalties and potential prosecution depending on the extent of concealment, according to officials.
