The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has seized 9.40 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at approximately ₹14.81 crore and arrested three Indian passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The operation, conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, 23 September 2026, uncovered one of the more elaborate concealment methods seen at the airport in recent months.

How the Gold Was Hidden

The three passengers had arrived on a flight from Dubai when they were intercepted based on specific prior intelligence, with operational support from the Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Airport Customs. A thorough examination of their baggage revealed that foreign-origin gold had been converted into fine powder and carefully blended with packaged food products that matched its colour, texture, and consistency — a technique designed to defeat routine scanning and visual checks.

The gold powder was concealed across several ordinary-looking food packets, including milk powder, oats, various flours, Nutella, and coconut milk powder. In total, approximately 33.50 kg of food products mixed with gold powder were recovered from the baggage of the three travellers. Through careful segregation and laboratory assaying, DRI officers isolated 9.40 kg of pure foreign-origin gold.

Arrests and Legal Action

During questioning, all three passengers admitted they were acting on behalf of the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate, according to officials. They were arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the consignment was formally seized under the same statute. Officials described the modus operandi as novel and highly sophisticated, noting that the method was specifically engineered to evade standard security and customs procedures.

The Broader Smuggling Network

The DRI stated that the case reflects the evolving and increasingly creative tactics deployed by international gold-smuggling networks. This interception forms part of the agency's sustained crackdown on gold smuggling through Indian airports, a phenomenon that has intensified as demand for undeclared foreign gold — and the duty arbitrage it represents — remains high. Notably, the Dubai-India corridor has historically been one of the most active routes for such smuggling, and authorities have flagged a rise in concealment methods that exploit food and household goods as cover.

Investigation Under Way

Further investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the syndicate and trace the larger network behind the operation. Authorities have indicated that the three arrested passengers are unlikely to be the only links in the chain, with the DRI working to map upstream suppliers and downstream distributors connected to the consignment.