Shocking Smuggling Bust at Mumbai Airport: ₹3.89 Crore Gold Hidden Inside a Tumbler

Mumbai | The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, achieved a major breakthrough on the last day of the year by seizing 3.05 kg of gold from an Indian national arriving from Bahrain. The seized gold is valued at approximately ₹3.89 crore in the domestic market.

According to officials, the gold had been concealed in an innovative manner. It was processed into 12 capsules made of wax, which were then cleverly hidden inside a water tumbler. Acting on specific intelligence inputs that foreign-origin gold might be smuggled in wax form by concealing it either on a passenger’s body or in their baggage at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, DRI officers mounted a swift operation.

On December 31, 2025, the suspect passenger was intercepted upon arrival from Bahrain. A detailed examination of his baggage led to the recovery of the water tumbler inside which the 12 wax capsules were found. Further scrutiny revealed that the capsules contained gold dust processed into wax form with a purity of 24 carats.
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The seized gold has been confiscated under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. DRI officials stated that further investigation is underway to trace the source of the smuggled gold and to identify the wider smuggling network involved.

Officials described this as a highly sophisticated smuggling method wherein gold is blended with wax to form capsules and then concealed inside common household items to evade detection.

The DRI which functions under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country’s economic interests through intelligence-driven operations. The agency added that during the year, it successfully foiled several major gold smuggling attempts at airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, leading to the seizure of gold worth over ₹100 crore in total.

IANS

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