Ahmedabad Airport: 729g gold worth ₹98.78 lakh seized from Abu Dhabi passenger
Synopsis
A Hyderabad woman arriving at Ahmedabad airport from Abu Dhabi was caught with 729 grams of gold jewellery worth nearly ₹99 lakh hidden in her bag and beneath her clothing — the latest in a string of gold smuggling busts at SVPIA that have also included gold stashed in aircraft lavatories and rhodium-coated jewellery carried by passengers from Jeddah.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Customs seized 729 grams of gold jewellery worth ₹98,78,715 from a passenger on 7 July 2025 .
The passenger, a Hyderabad resident, arrived on IndiGo flight 6E-1432 from Abu Dhabi .
Gold was allegedly concealed inside her handbag and worn beneath her clothing; 710.9g was 22-carat and 18.1g was 18-carat.
The seizure follows a June 2025 bust of 2.799 kg of gold biscuits worth ₹4.26 crore hidden in an IndiGo aircraft lavatory at the same airport.
Authorities have not disclosed the passenger's identity; investigation is ongoing to trace the gold's source and destination.
Customs officers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad intercepted a woman arriving from Abu Dhabi on 7 July 2025, recovering 729 grams of undeclared gold jewellery valued at ₹98,78,715 — allegedly concealed inside her handbag and worn beneath her clothing. The seizure was carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs following intelligence developed through passenger profiling, officials said.
How the Gold Was Hidden
The passenger arrived on IndiGo flight 6E-1432 from Abu Dhabi. During a detailed examination, Customs officers recovered gold bangles, necklaces, chains, an anklet, earrings, and rings — items spread across her handbag and concealed beneath her garments in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Of the total quantity seized, 710.9 grams was certified as 22-carat gold with a purity of 916, while the remaining 18.1 grams was 18-carat gold with a purity of 750. The entire consignment has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Who Is the Passenger
Authorities have not disclosed the woman's identity. According to officials, she is a resident of Hyderabad. Further investigation is under way to determine the source of the gold and its intended destination.
Part of a Wider Pattern at Ahmedabad Airport
This seizure is the latest in a series of gold smuggling cases detected at Ahmedabad airport in recent months, pointing to a persistent and evolving smuggling corridor through the city's international terminal.
In June 2025, Ahmedabad Customs recovered 2.799 kg of foreign-origin gold biscuits worth more than ₹4.26 crore, concealed inside a speaker box in the front lavatory of an IndiGo aircraft that had arrived from Dubai. No claimant came forward, and the gold was seized as unclaimed property under the Customs Act.
Separately, officers have also detected rhodium-coated gold jewellery carried by four women arriving from Jeddah, as well as gold hidden in modified baggage components — reflecting the increasingly sophisticated methods smugglers are deploying to evade Customs checks.
What Happens Next
Investigators are working to trace the supply chain behind the latest seizure. The growing frequency and variety of concealment techniques detected at SVPIA suggest that intelligence-led passenger profiling is yielding results, even as smuggling networks adapt their methods. Authorities have not indicated whether any arrests have been made in connection with the 7 July case.
Point of View
Aircraft lavatory drops, and rhodium-coated ornaments — detected within weeks of each other at the same terminal suggest an organised network, not opportunistic travellers. The fact that the June aircraft-lavatory haul had no claimant points to a dead-drop model that is harder to prosecute. Customs intelligence is clearly improving, but the volume and variety of attempts indicate the deterrent effect of seizures alone is limited without upstream enforcement.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized at Ahmedabad airport on 7 July 2025?
Customs officers seized 729 grams of undeclared gold jewellery — including bangles, necklaces, chains, an anklet, earrings, and rings — worth ₹98,78,715 from a woman who had arrived from Abu Dhabi. The gold was allegedly hidden in her handbag and worn beneath her clothing.
Who was the passenger caught with the gold?
The passenger is described by officials as a resident of Hyderabad. Authorities have not disclosed her name, and investigation is ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the gold.
How did Customs officers detect the smuggled gold?
The interception followed intelligence developed through passenger profiling by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs. Officers conducted a detailed examination after the passenger was flagged on arrival.
What other gold smuggling cases have been detected at Ahmedabad airport recently?
In June 2025, Ahmedabad Customs recovered 2.799 kg of gold biscuits worth over ₹4.26 crore from a speaker box in an IndiGo aircraft lavatory. Officers have also detected rhodium-coated gold jewellery and gold hidden in modified baggage, pointing to a pattern of organised smuggling through the airport.
Under which law has the gold been seized?
The entire consignment has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. No arrests have been publicly confirmed in connection with the 7 July case as of the time of reporting.
