Six Arrested as DRI Seizes 5.1 kg Gold Worth ₹7.49 Crore at Mumbai Airport

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an international gold-smuggling network at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, seizing 5.1 kg of smuggled gold valued at ₹7.49 crore. The intelligence-led operation, which took place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, resulted in the arrest of six individuals, including three airport staffers and three Filipino transit passengers.

What initially appeared to be a routine transit operation at the airport was revealed to be part of an organised international smuggling network involving airport insiders and foreign carriers, according to investigators. The DRI launched the operation after receiving specific information about a syndicate that was allegedly routing gold into India through Mumbai from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Bangkok in Thailand.

According to DRI officials, the investigation revealed that the three arrested airport staffers played a crucial role in the operation. They allegedly helped the syndicate remove the smuggled gold from the airport premises after it was brought into the country by transit passengers.

The sting operation began when DRI officers intercepted two airport staffers who were allegedly attempting to take the smuggled gold out of the airport. During the initial questioning, investigators identified and intercepted a third staffer, who was allegedly responsible for receiving the gold consignments from transit passengers inside the airport.

Following the interception of the airport employees, the probe led officers to three Filipino transit passengers. These passengers were subsequently arrested for allegedly smuggling the gold into India on behalf of the syndicate.

In total, the DRI seized 5.1 kg of gold valued at ₹7.49 crore and arrested six accused believed to be part of the organised network. A DRI official confirmed that the operation successfully disrupted the syndicate, resulting in the arrest of the six individuals involved in the organised smuggling of gold into India.