Arguably the most-awaited series of the month, Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web will be released on Netflix on January 14, 2026. Directed by Raghav Jairath, Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web revolves around Custom officers of India, specially around Superintendent Arjun Meena.
The series features Emraan Hashmi as Superintendent Arjun Meena, a Custom officer. It also features Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, Anurag Sinha, Zoya Afroz, etc.
Interestingly, Taskaree Smuggler’s Web is created by film-maker Neeraj Pandey. Neeraj Pandey is the same film-maker who has made famous series and movies like Special 26, Baby, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, etc.
Specialty of Neeraj Pandey's projects is such that he generally don't mentions that his projects are inspired by true events but then fans observe his content's similarity with real life case. One of the major example of such kind of project is Khakee: The Bengal Chapter.
Now, since you have landed on this page, True Scoop assumes that you are digging deep into Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web True Story or Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web Real Story and whether it is inspired by true events or not?
The answer is yes and no at the same time. According to reports, the makers of Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web may have taken inspiration from various real life gold smuggling cases that emerge in India. However, the makers have not mentioned whether the series is inspired by from a particular case.
Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web trailer mentions Mumbai Customs stopped smuggling attempt of Rs 1200 crore at the airport. The trailer further showcases that the character of Arjun Meena leading an SIT of Customs to stop gold and other items smuggling from Mumbai Airport.
A post is also going viral on Instagram in which a user claim that it reminds him of a case when DRI seized Rs 24 crore worth of gold in 2022.
On being cross checked, True Scoop could not find a credible report suggesting DRI caught Rs 24 crore worth of gold in 2022.
However, multiple cases are available that showcase that DRI has foiled multiple gold smuggling attempt. One such case dates back to 2019.
As per HT report published in 2019, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted an international gold smuggling racket and arrested seven of its members. The DRI also seized around 106 kilograms of smuggled gold worth around Rs 31.8 crore.
The racket had smuggled in nearly 200kg foreign-origin gold worth nearly ₹60 crore into India from Dubai. The racket would declare the gold as brass and conceal it inside imported metal scrap to smuggle it.
The arrested accused were Nisar Aliyar, 43, a Kerala resident, Shoeb Zarodarwala, 47, Abdul Zarodarwala, 26, Manoj Jain, 32, Aaquil Fruitwala, 39, Shaikh Ahad, 32, and Happy Dhakad, 34.
