DRI Seizes 41 Kg of Gold in Major Smuggling Crackdown
In a series of coordinated operations, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully dismantled major gold smuggling networks, seizing approximately 41 kg of foreign gold valued at around Rs 62 crore. This crackdown took place over recent days and led to the arrest of 24 individuals, including three foreign nationals. The DRI’s efforts highlight the extensive and sophisticated methods employed by smuggling rings operating through airports, rail routes, and even the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Major Arrests and Discoveries in Delhi
The DRI’s operations gained momentum with a significant raid in Delhi on September 7, 2026. Officers conducted multiple searches linked to an individual involved in the smuggling of foreign gold. They uncovered a manufacturing facility equipped with machinery for melting and rolling gold, located at a residential property. The operation resulted in the seizure of 10.2 kg of gold, including four gold bars and approximately 6.2 kg of gold chains made from smuggled materials. One individual was arrested during this operation.
Further Seizures and Arrests
On September 8, another operation in Delhi led to the recovery of 1.21 kg of gold and foreign currency valued at Rs. 43.50 lakh from a vehicle coming from Punjab, resulting in an arrest. Earlier, on September 5-6, a collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) resulted in the seizure of approximately 11.3 kg of gold near the Indo-Bangladesh border from an individual who could not provide legitimate documentation for possession.
Operations Across West Bengal and Mumbai
In West Bengal, on September 3-4, the DRI intercepted a passenger at Howrah Railway Station and seized four defaced foreign-origin gold bars weighing 4.6 kg, concealed in a specially designed cloth belt. The following week in Mumbai, DRI agents disrupted an organized syndicate involving transit passengers and airport personnel. Following an intense pursuit, officers apprehended airport staff secretly involved in removing smuggled gold from the airport, resulting in the seizure of 8 capsules containing 3.47 kg of gold dust.
Multiple Arrests Highlighting the Smuggling Network
In additional operations throughout late August and early September, DRI officers seized over 1.6 kg of gold from various travelers, including a Chinese national found with gold hidden within a treadmill. They also recovered gold bars from other unusual concealments, demonstrating the lengths to which smuggling operations will go. In Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, gold was found hidden in a vehicle’s gearbox, further emphasizing the innovative concealment methods employed by smugglers.
Continued Vigilance Against Smuggling
The DRI continues its relentless pursuit of organized gold smuggling networks, employing intelligence-led strategies to sever the lines of illicit trade. Recent operations showcase the persistence of these syndicates and the DRI’s commitment to enforcing the Customs Act, 1962, to prevent illegal smuggling and protect the nation’s economy.
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