Millions in Gold Seized: UAE-Delhi Routes Become Hotspot for Smuggling Foiled by Customs

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi have successfully thwarted three separate gold smuggling attempts originating from the UAE in recent weeks. The illicit gold was discovered ingeniously concealed within the linings of trolley bags, hidden in passengers' socks, and even disguised as silver chains. In one of the most significant seizures, officials confiscated 6.5kg of gold, valued at approximately Dh3.8 million. This particular operation involved gold chains that had been sprayed with silver and black paint and hidden under seats on Emirates flight EK-514, which traveled from Dubai to Delhi. Following these incidents, airport police apprehended eight passengers, who have since been remanded to judicial custody.

Earlier, on October 10, customs officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Sharjah. A search revealed 241g of 99.31 per cent pure gold, meticulously molded into wire linings within the corners of two trolley bags. A video released by Delhi Customs documented an official extracting the rod-like gold from the seams of the passenger's red bags. The recovered gold from this interception was valued at around Dh149,000. Customs has seized the gold, and an investigation is ongoing.

On the same day, customs officers at Terminal 3 intercepted an Indian national arriving from Muscat via Oman Air flight WY-241. This passenger had initially traveled from Dubai to Muscat on October 9, using connecting flight WY-612. A thorough personal search led to the discovery of two rectangular pouches containing gold paste, concealed within the passenger's socks. These pouches had a gross weight of 725g, inclusive of wrapping and concealment materials. In addition to the gold found in his socks, officials also recovered a 587g gold bar, with a karatometer test confirming its 100 per cent purity.

The gold, disguised as chains and painted silver and black, was found hidden beneath seats. Customs assessed the tariff value of this gold at approximately Dh323,000 and its market value at roughly Dh364,000. The passenger informed investigators that the gold originated from Dubai and was concealed to evade declaration and customs duty. Consequently, the gold was seized by Customs under Section 110(1) of the Customs Act, 1962.

Delhi Customs has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining vigilance against smuggling activities and enhancing enforcement measures at the nation's busiest international airport. Reports from Reuters in July indicated a rise in unofficial gold inflows into India following an increase in import tariffs on the precious metal earlier this year. The World Gold Council has noted that grey market inflows and the resulting disruptions negatively impact organized market participants. India, the second-largest gold consumer globally after China, had doubled its import tariffs to 15 per cent on May 13 in an effort to curb demand, reduce the trade deficit, and alleviate pressure on its currency. According to a WGC report, India's net gold imports decreased by 23 per cent year-on-year to 98.1 tons in the June quarter, marking the lowest quarterly level since September 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had previously suppressed demand.