DRI busts gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai airport, 6 arrested including 3 Filipinos
Synopsis
The DRI has cracked open an international gold smuggling ring at Mumbai's busiest airport, arresting six people — including three Filipino nationals — who allegedly used transit passengers from Dubai and Bangkok and exploited airport insiders to move contraband. The case exposes a systemic vulnerability at CSMIA and signals a broader DRI crackdown spanning gold, wildlife, and transnational networks.
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted an international gold smuggling syndicate at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) , Mumbai , on 17 July 2025 .
Six people were arrested — Himanshu Upadhyay , Mohid Hasan Siddiqui , Feroz Sayyed (all Mumbai residents) and three Filipino nationals: Lakim Alimudin Nasser , Benny Lloyd Olivo , and Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro .
The syndicate allegedly used transit passengers from Dubai and Bangkok and colluded with private individuals working inside the airport.
Earlier in July 2025 , DRI and the CBI jointly busted an interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate in West Bengal and Maharashtra , rescuing multiple Schedule I species.
DRI's total wildlife seizures across airport operations have reached 440 .
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled an international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, arresting six individuals — including three Filipino nationals — officials confirmed on Friday, 17 July. The syndicate allegedly exploited transit passengers and insiders at the airport to move contraband gold from Dubai and Bangkok into India.
Who Was Arrested
The six accused have been identified as Mumbai residents Himanshu Upadhyay, Mohid Hasan Siddiqui, and Feroz Sayyed, along with three nationals of the Philippines — Lakim Alimudin Nasser, Benny Lloyd Olivo, and Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro. All six are in DRI custody following the operation.
How the Syndicate Operated
According to DRI officials, the accused revealed during interrogation that the syndicate used transit passengers arriving from Dubai and Bangkok as carriers to smuggle gold into Mumbai. Critically, the operation allegedly relied on the connivance of private individuals working within the airport premises — pointing to a systemic insider threat at one of India's busiest international gateways. The involvement of foreign nationals from the Philippines suggests a well-organised transnational network with multiple nodes across Southeast Asia and the Gulf.
DRI's Broader Enforcement Push
The gold bust is part of a wider enforcement surge by the DRI. Earlier in July 2025, the agency — working alongside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — dismantled an interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate spanning West Bengal and Maharashtra. That operation led to the rescue of 15 Slow Lorises, two Binturongs, 28 Star Tortoises, six Egyptian Vultures, and two Shikra birds, all listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The CBI subsequently arrested six people in that case.
Airport Smuggling: A Persistent Vulnerability
The DRI has also intercepted multiple attempts by passengers arriving from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Colombo to smuggle protected wildlife through international airports. Species seized in those operations include Albino Red-eared Turtles, Hypo Zero Bearded Dragons, African Spurred Tortoises, Borneo Pythons, Green Iguanas, Mangrove Monitor Lizards, Argentine Black and White Tegus, Goeldi's Marmosets, Yellow Cheeked Gibbons, Indonesian Blue Tongued Skinks, Siamang Gibbons, Woolly Monkeys, Silvery Lutungs, and multiple Ball Python variants. Total seizures across these wildlife operations have reached 440.
What Comes Next
The gold smuggling case remains under active DRI investigation. Authorities have not ruled out further arrests as the probe into the airport insider network deepens. The pattern of using transit routes through Dubai and Bangkok — combined with alleged airport collusion — is likely to trigger a security review at CSMIA.
Point of View
If proven, points to a structural failure in airport security vetting that no amount of intelligence-led interdiction can fully substitute for. The DRI's concurrent crackdown on wildlife trafficking suggests the agency is operating with broader multi-commodity intelligence, but the gold case will test whether investigators can roll up the network beyond the six arrested or whether the kingpins remain insulated across borders.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the DRI uncover in the Mumbai gold smuggling bust?
The DRI dismantled an international gold smuggling syndicate that was allegedly using transit passengers arriving from Dubai and Bangkok to carry gold into Mumbai through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The operation also revealed alleged collusion with private individuals working inside the airport.
Who were the six people arrested in the DRI gold smuggling case?
The six arrested are Mumbai residents Himanshu Upadhyay, Mohid Hasan Siddiqui, and Feroz Sayyed, along with three Filipino nationals — Lakim Alimudin Nasser, Benny Lloyd Olivo, and Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro. All were arrested by the DRI following interrogation.
How did the gold smuggling syndicate operate at Mumbai airport?
According to DRI officials, the syndicate routed contraband gold through transit passengers flying in from Dubai and Bangkok. The accused allegedly had the support of private persons with access to airport premises, enabling the gold to bypass standard checks.
What other operations has the DRI conducted recently?
Earlier in July 2025, the DRI — in coordination with the CBI — busted an interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate across West Bengal and Maharashtra, leading to the rescue of 15 Slow Lorises, two Binturongs, 28 Star Tortoises, six Egyptian Vultures, and two Shikra birds. Separately, DRI has seized 440 protected wildlife specimens smuggled through international airports from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Colombo.
What happens next in the Mumbai gold smuggling investigation?
The case remains under active DRI investigation. Authorities have not ruled out further arrests as the probe into alleged airport insider involvement continues. The transnational nature of the syndicate — spanning the Philippines, Dubai, and Bangkok — suggests the investigation may extend across jurisdictions.
