Major Drug Enforcement Operation Uncovers Gold Smuggling Ring in Gujarat, Seizing ₹19.41 Crore in Foreign Gold
A major operation in Gujarat led to the seizure of 13 kg of foreign gold worth ₹19.41 crore and the arrest of three smugglers.
Ahmedabad, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully dismantled a significant gold smuggling operation in Gujarat. During the operation, officials seized approximately 13.017 kilograms of foreign gold valued at ₹19.41 crore and arrested three individuals involved in the scheme. This network was reportedly operating through Ahmedabad and Surat airports.
Following credible intelligence, DRI officials conducted simultaneous raids over 42 hours starting from October 16, 2026. The operation revealed a complex racket involving the smuggling of gold by air travelers, handlers transferring gold, illegal melting of gold in Vadodara, and subsequent sales through jewelry outlets.
Investigations indicated that the smugglers employed sophisticated methods to conceal the gold. Techniques included using thin wires coated with rhodium, hiding gold within the inner layers of trolley bags, and transporting gold in paste form. Upon arrival in India, the gold was handed over to handlers outside the airport.
The gold was subsequently sent to an illegal melting unit in Vadodara, reportedly financed by a backer based in Dubai. The melted gold was later sold for cash at a jewelry store in Ahmedabad.
During the raids, authorities confiscated nearly 890 grams of gold and gathered crucial evidence related to 6.41 kilograms of illegally melted gold. The search of the jewelry store uncovered undocumented foreign gold biscuits and records indicating that about 5.8 kilograms of smuggled gold had been funneled through a different handler linked to the Dubai-based syndicate.
This operation has exposed the collusion among travelers, handlers, intermediaries, melting operators, and jewelers involved in the smuggling of gold. The three main suspects have been arrested under the Customs Act of 1962.
The DRI stated that this action represents a significant step in breaking the organized network of gold smuggling, targeting every phase from concealment to market sale.
