The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an alleged two-way smuggling operation at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, involving the movement of foreign-origin gold into India and diamonds for illicit export to Dubai.
The DRI said its officers intercepted an airport staff member on September 30 while he was allegedly handing over diamonds to an Indian passenger travelling to Dubai. During the operation, officers also recovered three capsules containing foreign-origin gold dust in wax form.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
DRI seized 8.564 kg of 24-carat foreign-origin gold.
The gold was valued at approximately ₹12.64 crore.
1,168.97 carats of diamonds worth approximately ₹1.09 crore were seized.
The diamonds included natural and lab-grown varieties.
Eight people were arrested.
An airport staff member was among those arrested.
Further investigation led to the identification of five additional transit passengers who were allegedly scheduled to deliver smuggled gold to the airport staff member. The passengers had arrived on flights from Dubai, Doha, Jeddah and Fujairah and were travelling onward to Singapore and Dhaka.
In total, DRI officers seized 23 capsules containing 24-carat foreign-origin gold dust in wax form, weighing 8.564 kg and valued at approximately ₹12.64 crore.
The agency also seized 1,168.97 carats of diamonds valued at approximately ₹1.09 crore. The diamond seizure comprised 132.17 carats of natural diamonds and 1,036.80 carats of lab-grown diamonds.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The case highlights the role of customs enforcement in detecting alleged smuggling activities involving international transit passengers and airport personnel.
Eight people, including an airport staff member, six transit passengers and an Indian outbound passenger, were arrested under relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
According to the DRI, the investigation revealed an alleged two-way modus operandi in which the airport staff member was involved in receiving foreign-origin gold from international transit passengers for clandestine removal into India while also facilitating the attempted export of diamonds to Dubai through an outbound passenger.
