DRI seizes diamonds worth ₹5.7 crore at Mumbai airport, two arrested
Synopsis
Two passengers at Mumbai's CSMI Airport were caught with 1,624 carats of diamonds — worth ₹5.70 crore — concealed inside their bodies in capsule form, allegedly bound for Bangkok. The DRI bust points to a sophisticated international smuggling syndicate with suspected money laundering links, and comes weeks after a separate ₹139 crore agricultural goods smuggling case at Nhava Sheva Port.
Key Takeaways
The DRI Mumbai seized 1,624 carats of diamonds worth approximately ₹5.70 crore at CSMI Airport on 14 May .
Both accused had concealed two capsules each inside their bodies, allegedly to smuggle the gems to Bangkok .
The diamonds — a mix of natural and lab-grown — were seized under the Customs Act, 1962 ; both individuals were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing to dismantle the alleged smuggling syndicate, which reportedly has links to international money laundering .
The bust follows a 20 April DRI action at Nhava Sheva Port involving ₹139 crore worth of misdeclared agricultural goods.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, has seized diamonds valued at approximately ₹5.70 crore from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport and arrested two individuals allegedly attempting to smuggle the gems to Bangkok. The interception, carried out on 14 May, was based on specific intelligence inputs, officials confirmed.
How the Smuggling Was Detected
Acting on prior intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the two passengers at CSMI Airport before they could board their flight. During examination and questioning, both individuals admitted to having concealed two capsules each inside their bodies. The capsules were subsequently purged, leading to the recovery of 1,624 carats of diamonds — a mix of natural diamonds and lab-grown stones.
Officials stated that the diamonds had been deliberately concealed for the purpose of illegal export, in violation of customs regulations.
Legal Action and Seizure
The recovered diamonds were seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and both accused persons were formally arrested. The DRI has indicated that further investigation is underway to dismantle the syndicate allegedly behind the operation, which is suspected to have links to international money laundering networks.
Part of a Broader Enforcement Drive
This seizure follows a separate high-profile DRI action on 20 April, when the agency arrested an importer at Nhava Sheva Port for smuggling restricted agricultural commodities worth ₹139 crore from Tanzania, Sudan, and Canada. In that case, officers intercepted 132 containers holding approximately 3,029 metric tonnes of goods mis-declared as 'Toor Dal/Pigeon Peas'. Detailed examination revealed 2,710 MT of watermelon seeds and 319 MT of green peas — both restricted commodities under DGFT notifications — concealed under the false declaration.
The government had imposed strict import restrictions on these commodities to protect domestic farmers from low-priced foreign imports. Import of melon seeds has been restricted since June 2024 under DGFT Notification No. 05/2023, while green peas imports are subject to a Minimum Import Price of ₹200 per kg CIF and can only be cleared through Kolkata port, per DGFT Notification No. 37/2015–20.
DRI's Intelligence-Led Operations
The DRI has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying intelligence-driven operations against the smuggling of restricted and prohibited goods. The agency stated its focus remains on protecting India's economic interests, ensuring a level playing field for domestic producers, and enforcing compliance with import regulations. The diamond smuggling case signals a continued push against body-concealment methods increasingly used by international smuggling networks.
Point of View
But the scale — 1,624 carats in a single intercept — points to a well-organised supply chain, not opportunistic couriers. The DRI's reference to international money laundering links is significant: diamond smuggling is a known layering mechanism in trade-based money laundering, where under- or over-invoiced gem shipments move value across borders. What mainstream coverage underplays is that the simultaneous bust at Nhava Sheva Port suggests the DRI is acting on networked intelligence, not isolated tips. The real question is how far up the syndicate chain the current arrests reach.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the DRI seize at Mumbai airport?
The DRI seized 1,624 carats of diamonds , comprising both natural and lab-grown stones, valued at approximately ₹5.70 crore . The gems were found concealed inside the bodies of two passengers who were allegedly attempting to smuggle them to Bangkok.
How were the diamonds concealed?
Both accused had swallowed capsules — two each — containing the diamonds. The capsules were later purged by the passengers during examination at CSMI Airport, leading to the recovery of the gems.
What charges have been filed against the arrested individuals?
The two accused were arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 . Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the alleged smuggling syndicate.
Is this connected to international money laundering?
According to the DRI, the smuggling operation appears to have links to international money laundering activities. The agency is investigating the broader syndicate behind the alleged illegal export.
What was the earlier DRI case mentioned in connection with this bust?
On 20 April , the DRI arrested an importer at Nhava Sheva Port for smuggling ₹139 crore worth of watermelon seeds and green peas from Tanzania, Sudan, and Canada, misdeclared as Toor Dal across 132 containers .
