DRI seizes 1.3 kg gold worth ₹1.8 crore hidden in airport luggage trolleys
Synopsis
Two smugglers reportedly stuck gold biscuits onto airport luggage trolleys and let ordinary passengers unknowingly carry them past customs — then retrieved the loot on the other side. The DRI's ₹1.8 crore seizure exposes a calculated exploitation of innocent travellers and is part of a broader enforcement wave that has netted nearly 15.6 kg of narcotics, 8.5 kg of gold, and 1,168 carats of diamonds in just one week.
Key Takeaways
The DRI seized 1.3 kg of gold biscuits worth ₹1.8 crore hidden on airport luggage trolleys.
The gold was smuggled from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; two accused allegedly used unsuspecting travellers as unwitting carriers.
On 4 October , the DRI seized 15.59 kg of narcotics — amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin — and arrested five people under the NDPS Act, 1985 .
A drug-related high-speed chase lasting 1.5 hours ended near Bicholi Mardana, Indore , with contraband found in a vehicle's spare tyre.
On 2 October , the DRI's Mumbai Zonal Unit arrested eight syndicate members for smuggling ₹12.65 crore worth of gold and trafficking ₹1.09 crore in diamonds to Dubai via CSMIA .
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a novel gold-smuggling operation at a major Indian airport, seizing 1.3 kg of gold biscuits valued at ₹1.8 crore after investigators found the contraband concealed on luggage trolleys. The gold had been transported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by two accused who devised an elaborate scheme to use unsuspecting passengers as unwitting carriers.
How the Smuggling Scheme Worked
According to investigators, the two accused physically stuck gold biscuits onto airport luggage trolleys before departure. They then allegedly allowed ordinary travellers — unaware of the concealed contraband — to pick up those trolleys and pass through customs. The accused reportedly shadowed these passengers through the terminal and retrieved the gold from the trolleys once the travellers had cleared the customs barrier, effectively using innocent commuters as unknowing mules.
The operation was dismantled after the DRI acted on specific intelligence inputs, leading to the interception and seizure of the gold. The probe is expected to map the full smuggling network and determine how long this modus operandi had been in operation.
Part of a Wider DRI Crackdown
The trolley-gold seizure is the latest in a string of enforcement actions by the DRI. On 4 October, the agency seized a cumulative 15.59 kg of narcotic drugs — including amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin — across three separate intelligence-led operations. Five people were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In one of those operations, the DRI, working in coordination with the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), intercepted a vehicle at the Ujjain-Dewas Toll Plaza in Madhya Pradesh. When officers signalled the driver to stop, the driver allegedly rammed through a barricade and fled. A high-speed chase lasting approximately 1.5 hours ended near Bicholi Mardana in Indore, where the vehicle — a Thar SUV — was finally stopped. A detailed search uncovered amphetamine hidden inside the spare tyre mounted on the rear door.
Mumbai Airport Syndicate Busted Earlier
On 2 October, the DRI's Mumbai Zonal Unit dismantled an international syndicate that had smuggled 8.5 kg of gold worth ₹12.65 crore into India, while simultaneously trafficking 1,168 carats of diamonds worth ₹1.09 crore out of the country to Dubai through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Eight members of the syndicate were arrested for their alleged roles in this two-way trafficking operation.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
The DRI has confirmed that the investigation into the trolley-gold case is ongoing, with the focus on identifying the broader network behind the Kuala Lumpur–India route. Authorities are also examining whether the modus operandi of using unknowing passengers has been employed at other airports. The recent cluster of seizures signals a sharpened enforcement posture by the agency ahead of the holiday travel season.
Point of View
Three major DRI seizures in under a week — gold, diamonds, and a narcotics haul — point to a well-resourced enforcement surge, but they also reveal the volume of contraband actively moving through Indian airports and highways. The real measure of success will be how far up the supply chain these arrests reach.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did smugglers hide gold in airport luggage trolleys?
According to investigators, the two accused stuck gold biscuits directly onto luggage trolleys at the airport. Unsuspecting passengers then picked up the trolleys and passed through customs, after which the accused allegedly retrieved the gold — using innocent travellers as unknowing carriers without their knowledge or consent.
How much gold did the DRI seize in the trolley operation?
The DRI seized 1.3 kg of gold biscuits valued at approximately ₹1.8 crore . The gold had been transported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia .
What other major seizures has the DRI made recently?
In the same week, the DRI seized 15.59 kg of narcotic drugs on 4 October and arrested five people. On 2 October , its Mumbai unit busted an international syndicate, seizing 8.5 kg of gold worth ₹12.65 crore and 1,168 carats of diamonds worth ₹1.09 crore at Mumbai's international airport, arresting eight people.
What is the current status of the gold-trolley smuggling investigation?
The DRI has confirmed the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are focused on mapping the full smuggling network, understanding the Kuala Lumpur–India route, and determining whether the same technique has been used at other Indian airports.
Were the passengers who carried the trolleys arrested?
No. According to investigators, the passengers who carried the trolleys were unsuspecting and had no knowledge of the concealed gold. The accused are the two individuals who allegedly planted the gold and later retrieved it after the passengers cleared customs.
