Recent attempts of smuggling gold at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar came in light. 3 passengers travelling from Sharjah and Melbourne were caught bringing 724 grams of pure gold and gold jewellery, worth 1.05 crores
Case1
Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Amritsar, in a joint operation with the Customs Department, suspected a passenger arriving from Sharjah and recovered gold worth over ₹22 lakh
-Sequence of events
Speaking to the officials, it was informed that the passenger arrived at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsaron Wednesday. He travelled from an IndiGo flight 6E1428 from Sharjah. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Amritsar, in a joint operation with the Customs Department, intercepted a passenger. Acting on the suspicion, the accused was taken for X-Ray scanning followed by an extensive personal search.
-Recovery of Gold
During the search, officials recovered 174 grams (gross weight) of gold in paste form. It is a method frequently used by smugglers to avoid detection during airport security checks. After the gold was extracted from the paste, its net weight was found to be 150.04 grams. The recovered gold is currently valued at ₹22,05,588 in the market. The seized gold has been taken into custody, and authorities have initiated legal proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
-Questioning of the accused
The officials as a part of interrogation are questioning the accused about the source, recipient and the smuggling racket involved in the case. The officials are also looking for his travel history to bust any international smuggling syndicate involved in the case.
Case2
Another attempt of the same gold smuggling was intercepted at the Amritsar airport. A woman travelling from Sharjah was suspected involved in illegal activities. 90.21 grams of pure gold concealed in paste form was recovered from the lady. The current market values the amount of gold at ₹13.26 lakh.
-Revelations of the accused
Giving information about the case, officials told that the passenger arrived at the airport on Air India Express flight IX-138 from Sharjah. Acting swiftly on the suspicion, the woman was officials stopped for further examination and subjected her to X-ray screening followed by a detailed personal search.
-Seized consignment
Customs officials recovered 114 grams (gross weight) of gold concealed in paste form just like the above given case, to evade airport security checks. After separating the gold from the paste, authorities found that the net weight of the recovered pure gold was 90.21 grams. The estimated value of the seized gold is approximately ₹13,26,087
Investigation on the case
The officials questioned the woman whether she was acting independently or as part of an organised gold smuggling network. In addition to this the source of gold as well as its determined destination was also questioned. Officials said efforts are underway to trace every individual connected to the smuggling attempt.
Case 3
Customs officials at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport had another major crackdown on the gold smuggling. They seized a total of 484 grams of 24-carat gold worth over ₹70.66 lakh. The accused has been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway.
-Operation of the bust
The operation was carried out on the night of July 1, 2026. A male passenger arrived in Amritsar on Malaysia Airlines flight MH-118 from Melbourne, transiting through Kuala Lumpur. The suspicion on the passenger led him to go through a detailed examination. The passenger underwent X-ray screening and an extensive personal search as part of the inspection process
-Recovered gold
The recovered gold weighed 484 grams and has been valued at approximately ₹70,66,400, making it one of the significant gold seizures at Amritsar Airport in recent weeks.
-Possible smuggling network
The investigation is also focused on identifying any associates or handlers who may have facilitated the smuggling attempt. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a larger cross-border network, and further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.
Officials said strict monitoring of passengers arriving from overseas destinations continues, and enforcement agencies remain committed to dismantling organised smuggling networks operating through Indian airports.
