Ahmedabad Customs Uncover Major Gold Smuggling Operation
Customs officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad have successfully intercepted a significant gold smuggling attempt, seizing foreign-origin gold valued at approximately ₹4.27 crore. The illicit consignment was discovered hidden within an IndiGo flight that had arrived from Dubai.
The seizure occurred on Friday, June 12, 2026, during a thorough search of IndiGo Flight 6E-1478. With assistance from aircraft engineers, customs officers meticulously examined the plane, leading them to a speaker box located in the front lavatory. Inside, they found two pouches meticulously wrapped in black plastic tape.
Upon opening these pouches, officials recovered 24 gold biscuits of 999 purity (24 carat), collectively weighing 2,799.3 grams. The sophisticated nature of the concealment suggests a deliberate effort to bypass security and smuggle the gold into India, in violation of the Customs Act, 1962.
Significantly, no passenger or crew member came forward to claim ownership of the gold, leading to its seizure as unclaimed property. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to identify the individuals responsible for this smuggling attempt and to ascertain how the gold was placed aboard the aircraft without detection.
Growing Trend in Dubai-Linked Smuggling
This latest gold haul adds to a series of smuggling incidents involving flights originating from Dubai and arriving at Ahmedabad airport. Customs officials have noted an increasing pattern of such attempts, reinforcing their commitment to heightened surveillance at this busy international gateway.
Just weeks prior to this gold seizure, customs at the same airport intercepted two passengers arriving from Dubai on an Emirates flight. Their suspicious baggage revealed over 1.13 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes, including 'Mond' and 'Gudang Garam' brands, which were also seized under the Customs Act. These incidents underscore the persistent challenges faced by authorities in curbing illegal trade routes.