Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad arrested a 43-year-old man from Bharuch district on 9 October 2026 after allegedly recovering gold bars worth nearly ₹89 lakh concealed in his trouser pocket. The passenger had arrived on FlyDubai flight FZ-437 from Dubai and was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs based on targeted passenger profiling.

What Was Recovered

During a physical examination, officials recovered five foreign-origin gold TT bars of 999.0 purity — equivalent to 24-carat gold — from the passenger's trouser pocket. The bars collectively weighed 582.700 grams and carried a market value of ₹88,97,829, according to Customs officials.

The entire consignment was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the passenger was placed under arrest. Further investigation is currently underway.

Part of a Wider Pattern at Ahmedabad Airport

The seizure is not an isolated incident. On 6 October, Customs officials intercepted a couple arriving from Kuwait on Kuwait Airways flight KU-347 and recovered 308.710 grams of 24-carat gold jewellery — including bangles, chains, and anklets — valued at approximately ₹46.99 lakh. The items were concealed both in baggage and on the passengers' bodies.

In July, two male passengers from Maharashtra, arriving from Dubai on 22 July, were apprehended after allegedly concealing gold paste in their shirt collars. The recovered material was processed into 24-carat gold TT bars weighing 129.18 grams, valued at ₹19.48 lakh.

Notably, a case from February involved a passenger arriving from Abu Dhabi who had reportedly swallowed gold in capsule form. A medical examination confirmed the recovery of 135 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹21.9 lakh. That case underscored the increasingly creative methods smugglers are reportedly employing on the Dubai-Ahmedabad corridor.

How the AIU Caught the Suspect

The interception on 9 October was based on intelligence developed through systematic passenger profiling — a method Customs has been refining in response to the uptick in gold smuggling attempts at SVPIA. Officials have not disclosed further details about the suspect's background or alleged intent, stating that investigation is ongoing.

Regulatory Framework and What Happens Next

All seizures at Ahmedabad airport have been made under the Customs Act, 1962, which empowers officials to seize and confiscate goods smuggled without declaration. Passengers are permitted to carry duty-free gold up to prescribed limits; any excess must be declared and duties paid. Carrying concealed gold beyond permissible limits constitutes a smuggling offence under the Act.

Investigations into each of the cases are ongoing, with officials working to establish the full network behind the attempted smuggling. The frequency of seizures on the Dubai-Ahmedabad and Gulf-Ahmedabad routes suggests a coordinated supply chain that authorities are actively trying to dismantle.