The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully dismantled a gold smuggling operation at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, arresting two cleaning personnel. These arrests were made on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in connection with the illicit transfer of foreign-origin gold worth a staggering ₹1.6 crore.
Initial investigations have shed light on a sophisticated smuggling network. This syndicate allegedly utilized international passengers to cleverly stash gold within incoming aircraft. Once the planes landed, airport staff, leveraging their privileged access, would then retrieve these hidden consignments.
The two individuals now in custody are employees of an airport services company and were apprehended on Saturday, October 18, 2025, according to official reports.
The DRI had received precise intelligence detailing the smuggling scheme: foreign gold was being brought into Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, hidden inside aircraft, and then collected by airport insiders.
Acting on this intelligence, a covert surveillance operation was set up at the airport. During this watch, a team leader from the cleaning staff was observed hastily placing a package on an aerobridge staircase after noticing DRI officers. Their suspicious behavior immediately drew attention.
The packet was promptly recovered by authorities. Inside, they discovered gold dust, cleverly molded into a wax-like form and disguised beneath a white cloth.
The staff member was taken into custody on the spot. During questioning, he confessed to concealing the package to evade detection.
Further interrogation revealed that his supervisor had retrieved the gold from an aircraft and then passed it to him. Following this crucial information, the supervisor was also arrested.
In total, authorities seized 1.2 kilograms of 24-karat gold dust, with an estimated market value of approximately ₹1.6 crore. The seizure was made under the provisions of the Customs Act, officials confirmed.