Ahmedabad Airport: Couple held with 308g gold worth ₹46.98 lakh from Kuwait
Synopsis
A couple arriving from Kuwait at Ahmedabad's SVPIA was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit with 308 grams of 24-carat gold worth nearly ₹47 lakh concealed across baggage, a purse, and on their bodies — the latest in a string of Gulf-route gold seizures at the airport since July.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Customs seized 308.710 grams of 24-carat gold worth ₹46,98,566 on 6 October from a couple arriving on Kuwait Airways flight KU-347 .
The gold — bangles, chains and an anklet — was concealed in checked-in baggage , a hand purse , and on the passengers' bodies beneath clothing.
The woman passenger is a resident of Andhra Pradesh ; both face proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962 .
The seizure follows ₹49.23 lakh worth of gold seized on 26 August across three Gulf-route cases, and over ₹83 lakh seized from a woman doctor from Sharjah in August.
In July , Customs also recovered 244.16 grams worth ₹35.84 lakh from a Dubai-route passenger at the same airport.
Ahmedabad Customs officials on Tuesday, 6 October seized 308.710 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery worth ₹46,98,566 from a couple who arrived from Kuwait at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA). The interception was based on intelligence developed through passenger profiling, and marks the latest in a sustained run of gold seizures at one of India's busiest international airports.
How the Gold Was Concealed
Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs intercepted the husband and wife after they disembarked from Kuwait Airways flight KU-347. During examination, officials recovered gold bangles, chains and an anklet totalling 308.710 grams with a purity of 999.0 (24 carat).
According to Customs, the woman passenger — identified as a resident of Andhra Pradesh — had concealed the gold at multiple points: inside her checked-in baggage, inside her hand purse, and on her body beneath her garments. 'The male passenger was found wearing a gold chain concealed beneath his clothing,' officials said. The entire quantity was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is in progress.
Part of a Wider Pattern at SVPIA
The seizure is not an isolated incident. On 26 August, Ahmedabad Customs officials seized 299.490 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹49.23 lakh across three separate cases involving passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Kuwait — all flagged through the same AIU profiling mechanism.
In another August case, Customs seized nearly 500 grams of 24-carat gold worth more than ₹83 lakh from a woman doctor arriving from Sharjah. The gold chain was allegedly concealed inside a high-neck sweater she was wearing. Earlier, in July, officials recovered 244.16 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹35.84 lakh from a woman passenger arriving from Dubai, with the gold reportedly concealed inside her body.
Why Ahmedabad Airport Is a Key Interception Point
SVPIA handles a significant volume of passenger traffic from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region — particularly from Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain — which correlates with elevated gold smuggling attempts. The AIU's passenger profiling protocol, which flags travel patterns, baggage declarations, and route history, has been the primary tool driving these detections.
Notably, India's import duty on gold remains a key economic driver for smuggling: the effective duty makes legally importing gold significantly more expensive than the street value differential that smugglers exploit. Customs experts point out that body concealment and layering across baggage types are the most commonly used methods at this airport.
What Happens Next
The seized gold, valued at ₹46,98,566, remains in Customs custody. The couple faces proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962, which can attract both confiscation of goods and personal penalties. Officials confirmed that investigation into the case is ongoing, with no further details on the accused released at this stage.
Point of View
Not a spike. Ahmedabad's Gulf passenger corridor is clearly being used as a systematic smuggling channel, and the frequency of body-concealment cases suggests smugglers are adapting to baggage X-ray checks. The AIU's profiling-led interceptions are effective but reactive; what is missing from the public record is any deterrence data — conviction rates, penalty enforcement, and whether repeat offenders or organised networks are being dismantled, or whether the airport is simply cycling through individual couriers.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gold was seized at Ahmedabad Airport on 6 October 2024?
Ahmedabad Customs seized 308.710 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery worth ₹46,98,566 from a couple arriving from Kuwait on 6 October. The gold was concealed in baggage, a hand purse, and on the passengers' bodies.
How was the gold smuggled — where was it hidden?
The woman passenger concealed gold inside her checked-in baggage, inside her hand purse, and on her body beneath her garments. The male passenger was found wearing a gold chain hidden under his clothing, according to Customs officials.
What action has been taken against the couple?
The entire quantity of 308.710 grams has been seized under the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is in progress; no additional details about the accused have been released by officials.
Is gold smuggling at Ahmedabad Airport a recurring problem?
Yes. Since July 2024, Ahmedabad Customs has recorded multiple significant seizures on Gulf routes — including ₹49.23 lakh worth of gold in three cases on 26 August and over ₹83 lakh from a single passenger from Sharjah. The Air Intelligence Unit attributes detections to passenger-profiling protocols.
Why is gold smuggled into India from Gulf countries?
India's import duty on gold makes legally imported gold significantly more expensive, creating a price differential that smugglers exploit. Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Kuwait, are major gold trade hubs, and the high passenger volume on these routes provides cover for concealment attempts.
