In a major breakthrough, the Hyderabad zonal unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully apprehended a passenger at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The arrest followed the recovery of 1.8 kilograms of smuggled gold, estimated to be worth an astounding ₹2.37 crore.
Acting on precise intelligence, DRI officials discreetly intercepted the individual who had arrived on Air Arabia flight G9 467, originating from Kuwait with a stopover in Sharjah. A meticulous inspection of the passenger’s checked-in luggage revealed an elaborate concealment scheme: five 24-carat gold bars and two smaller gold pieces were cleverly hidden within ordinary household items, an attempt to bypass airport security.
Authorities detailed that the five substantial gold bars were ingeniously embedded within a metallic door lock. Meanwhile, the two smaller, cut pieces of gold were discovered stashed inside a plastic pouch, camouflaged amidst sunflower seeds. The total weight of this illicit haul was precisely 1,798 grams.
A significant quantity of smuggled gold, weighing 1.8 kilograms and valued at ₹2.37 crore, was confiscated from a passenger at Hyderabad’s RGIA on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
By Arrangement
The DRI confirmed that this foreign-origin gold had been smuggled into the country in clear violation of customs regulations. Both the valuable gold and the items used for its concealment have been confiscated, and the passenger faces arrest under the stringent provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Further investigations into this high-value smuggling case are actively in progress.