In a high-stakes crackdown codenamed “Operation Golden Sweep,” the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Officials have confirmed the arrest of 13 people, including foreign nationals, airport staff, and the syndicate’s mastermind, marking one of the most significant gold smuggling busts of the year.
Gold Worth Rs 12.58 Crore Recovered
According to DRI sources, officers seized 10.488 kilograms of 24-carat foreign gold, estimated to be worth Rs 12.58 crore in the market. The contraband was recovered after an extensive multi-agency surveillance and intelligence-led operation conducted on Friday.
Initial investigations revealed that the network had been using Mumbai Airport as a key transit hub for international gold smuggling for several months, with routes connecting Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, and Dhaka.
Inside the Syndicate’s Smuggling Operation
The investigation uncovered an elaborate modus operandi involving transit passengers who acted as gold couriers. Gold was concealed in egg-shaped wax capsules and carried internally by the passengers. Upon landing in Mumbai, these “carriers” discreetly handed over the smuggled gold to airport insiders involved in the racket.
These staff members then ensured the contraband was safely removed from airport premises and delivered to handlers linked to the mastermind, who managed the entire operation from both Mumbai and Dubai.
Airport Staff Under the Scanner
The DRI’s statement emphasized the critical role of complicit airport employees, who allegedly used their access privileges to bypass security checks. Their involvement, officials said, made the smuggling operation difficult to detect and almost seamless.
Sources within the agency added that such coordinated crimes point to the growing sophistication of smuggling syndicates, which now rely on insider assistance and advanced concealment techniques.
International Links and Mastermind Revealed
Investigators have traced the syndicate’s roots to a Dubai-based operator who coordinated the logistics, finances, and recruitment of couriers. The mastermind allegedly financed multiple smuggling trips every month, using legitimate passenger flights as the primary cover.
Authorities are now probing possible money laundering and hawala connections, which may have funded the illicit trade and linked it to other international crime networks.
A Major Blow to Cross-Border Smuggling
Calling it a “landmark operation,” the DRI said the successful interception highlights the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and tight inter-agency coordination.
Officials added that such actions serve as a strong deterrent against transnational gold smuggling and help plug potential gaps in airport security systems.
