Gold paste worth ₹20.12 lakh seized at Ahmedabad Airport from Dubai flier
Synopsis
Customs officers at Ahmedabad's SVPIA busted another creative gold-smuggling attempt on 19 October — this time finding 133.450 grams of 24-carat gold paste hidden inside a cloth patch sewn into a trolley bag. The Dubai-Ahmedabad corridor has now seen multiple high-value gold seizures in 2026, with paste-form concealment emerging as a preferred tactic for evading airport X-ray checks.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Customs seized 133.450 grams of 24-carat gold worth ₹20.12 lakh on 19 October 2026 at SVPIA .
Gold was concealed as paste beneath a cloth patch inside a cabin baggage trolley bag on a Dubai flight.
The 29-year-old passenger from Tanda, Uttar Pradesh was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) via passenger profiling.
The gold was seized under the Customs Act, 1962 ; investigation is ongoing to identify possible accomplices.
Earlier seizures at SVPIA in 2026 include ₹96 lakh worth in February, ₹19.48 lakh in July, and ₹4.27 crore in gold biscuits in June.
Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad seized 133.450 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹20.12 lakh from a passenger arriving from Dubai on 19 October 2026, after detecting gold paste cleverly concealed inside the lining of a cabin baggage trolley bag. The gold was extracted, melted, and formally seized under the Customs Act, 1962.
How the Smuggling Attempt Was Uncovered
Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs intercepted the 29-year-old passenger, a native of Tanda, Uttar Pradesh, based on passenger profiling. During a detailed inspection of his trolley bag — carried as cabin baggage — officials noticed a suspicious patch affixed to the interior of the bag.
Closer examination revealed that gold paste had been applied as a concealed layer beneath a cloth patch fixed inside the bag. Officials subsequently extracted and melted the paste, recovering 133.450 grams of 24-carat gold with a market value of ₹20,12,426.
Investigation Under Way
Authorities say a further investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the attempted smuggling and to determine whether additional individuals were involved in the operation. No arrests have been publicly confirmed at this stage, according to reports.
Part of a Persistent Pattern at SVPIA
This seizure is far from an isolated incident — it forms part of a troubling pattern of gold smuggling through Ahmedabad airport, particularly on the Dubai route. In July, customs officials recovered 129.18 grams of 24-carat gold paste worth ₹19.48 lakh from two passengers, where the contraband was hidden inside their shirt collars.
In February, a Dubai-arriving passenger was intercepted carrying 601.9 grams of 24-carat gold worth over ₹96 lakh, concealed in paste form inside his underwear. More dramatically, in June, officials recovered 2,799.3 grams of gold biscuits valued at approximately ₹4.27 crore from a speaker box hidden in an aircraft lavatory.
Why Gold Smuggling via Dubai Persists
The Dubai-India corridor remains a hotspot for gold smuggling, driven by the significant price differential between the UAE market and Indian retail rates, compounded by import duties. Smugglers have increasingly moved away from traditional concealment — swallowing capsules or hiding bars in luggage — toward more sophisticated methods such as gold paste, which is harder to detect on standard X-ray scans.
Customs agencies have responded by deploying advanced passenger profiling and enhanced baggage examination protocols. With gold prices at elevated levels, experts note that the incentive for smuggling remains high, and enforcement agencies are likely to face continued pressure on the busiest international routes.
Point of View
And traffickers are clearly adapting — moving from crude concealment to near-undetectable paste form. The AIU's reliance on passenger profiling is effective but resource-intensive; the real systemic fix lies in a serious review of duty structures, something policymakers have repeatedly deferred. Until that happens, Ahmedabad airport's customs officers will keep fighting an asymmetric battle.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized at Ahmedabad airport on 19 October 2026?
Customs officials seized 133.450 grams of 24-carat gold worth ₹20.12 lakh from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The gold had been concealed in paste form inside a cloth patch fixed to the interior of a cabin baggage trolley bag.
How did customs officers detect the gold paste?
Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted the passenger based on passenger profiling. A detailed examination of his trolley bag revealed a suspicious cloth patch, beneath which gold paste was layered — later extracted and melted to confirm the metal's purity and weight.
Who was the passenger caught with gold at SVPIA?
The passenger is a 29-year-old man from Tanda in Uttar Pradesh who had arrived on a flight from Dubai. His identity has not been publicly disclosed by authorities, and an investigation is ongoing.
Is gold smuggling at Ahmedabad airport a recurring problem?
Yes. Multiple significant seizures have been recorded at SVPIA in 2026 alone — including 601.9 grams worth over ₹96 lakh in February, 129.18 grams worth ₹19.48 lakh in July, and 2,799.3 grams of gold biscuits worth ₹4.27 crore found in an aircraft lavatory in June.
Why is gold smuggled from Dubai to India in paste form?
Gold paste is harder to identify on standard airport X-ray equipment compared with solid bars or jewellery. Smugglers exploit the price differential between the UAE market and Indian retail rates — widened further by import duties — making the risk financially attractive despite tightened enforcement.
