Bangladesh Border Emerges as Entry Point for Gold into India

Ø DRI intensifies crackdown on gold smuggling in pan-India operations; seizes around 41 kg foreign-origin gold worth Rs. 62 crore (approx.); 24 persons, including three foreign nationals, arrested

Operations expose sophisticated methods of concealment and organised smuggling networks operating through airports, rail routes and the Indo-Bangladesh border

· DRI conducted six intelligence-led operations across India, seizing around 41 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at approximately ₹62 crore.

· 24 persons were arrested, including three foreign nationals.

· Operations exposed organised smuggling networks using airports, railway routes, vehicles and the Indo-Bangladesh border.

· Delhi: About 10.2 kg gold seized, including four 1-kg foreign-origin bars and 6.2 kg gold chains; a facility used for melting, rolling and die-cutting smuggled gold was detected.

· Indo-Bangladesh border: 11.3 kg of foreign-origin gold bars seized in coordination with BSF.

· Howrah Railway Station: 4.6 kg of defaced gold bars concealed in a specially designed body belt; two persons arrested.

· Mumbai Airport: 3.47 kg gold dust in wax/paste form recovered from eight capsules; five persons, including airport staff and transit passengers, arrested.

· Mumbai/rail route: 1.6 kg foreign-origin gold seized from a passenger travelling by train from Kolkata to Mumbai.

· Treadmill concealment: Around 700 grams of 24-carat gold found concealed inside the motor of a treadmill imported from Hong Kong; two persons, including a Chinese national, arrested.

· Uttar Pradesh: 2.56 kg gold in 22 bars recovered from a box concealed beneath a car gearbox; preliminary investigation indicated smuggling from Bangladesh.

· Bengaluru Airport: Around 1 kg of gold bar cut-pieces recovered from baggage of a passenger travelling on a fake identity.

· Chennai: 2.5 kg of 24-carat gold extracted from eight capsules concealed in the rectum of two passengers arriving from Sri Lanka; six persons arrested, with suspected airport-staff collusion.

· Calicut: 1.7 kg gold seized in two cases—770 grams concealed in gold-containing compound and about 1 kg hidden inside the metallic ring of a coffee machine.

· The seizures demonstrate increasingly sophisticated concealment techniques, including body concealment, wax capsules, machinery, household appliances and vehicle components.

· DRI stated that coordinated intelligence-led enforcement is targeting multiple stages of organised gold-smuggling networks and preventing illicit movement of precious metals into India.

[ABS News Service/11.09.2026]

Continuing its sustained crackdown on organised gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 41 kg foreign-origin gold, cumulatively valued at around Rs 62 crore in six intelligence-led operations in recent days. The operations have resulted in the arrest of 24 persons, including three foreign nationals, and have exposed sophisticated methods of concealment and organised smuggling networks operating through airports, rail routes and the Indo-Bangladesh border.

In a major operation in Delhi, officers of DRI conducted simultaneous searches, on 07.09.2026, at premises linked to a person involved in the procurement and conversion of foreign-origin gold. A manufacturing facility with machinery for melting, rolling and die-cutting gold was found at a residential premises. Four foreign-origin gold bars, each weighing 1 kg along with around 6.2 kg gold chains made from smuggled gold bars, were recovered, taking the total seizure to 10.2 kg (approx.) of gold. One person, who owned the manufacturing facility, was arrested.

In a separate operation on 08.09.2026, DRI officers in Delhi intercepted a vehicle coming from Punjab and recovered and seized 1.21 kg gold along with foreign currency valued at approximately Rs. 43.50 lakh; One person was arrested.

Earlier, on 05–06.09.2026, DRI, in coordination with BSF, seized 89 pieces of foreign-origin gold bars weighing around 11.3 kg recovered from a person near the Indo-Bangladesh border at BOP Halderpara. As the person could not produce documents for lawful possession, the gold was seized under the Customs Act, 1962. The apprehended person admitted his involvement in smuggling and was arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Four defaced foreign-origin gold bars seized at Howrah Railway station

In another seizure in West Bengal, on 03–04.09.2026, DRI officers intercepted a passenger travelling under a different name at Howrah Railway Station. Four defaced foreign-origin gold bars, weighing 4.6 kg were recovered from a specially designed cloth belt concealed around the body. Investigation revealed that the gold had been melted and converted into defaced bars for onward delivery to Mumbai. Both the passenger and his associate were arrested.

In Mumbai, officers of DRI busted a well-organized syndicate involving transit passengers airport staff and recipient/handler. On 09-10.09.26, DRI officers intercepted an airport staff involved in the receipt and clandestine removal of the smuggled gold from the airport, after a hot pursuit of approximately 50 km following his surreptitious exit from the airport in a car. Upon search, he was found in possession of three capsules containing gold dust in wax form. The investigations revealed the gold capsules had been handed over to him in the transit area by a transit passenger and involvement of another female airport staff. In swift follow up operation two transit passengers were intercepted at Mumbai Airport while they were handing over the five gold capsules to the airport staff. The transit passengers had arrived from Muscat and Dubai for onwards journey to Bangkok after the delivery of the smuggled gold. A female airline staff, for her involvement in clandestine removal of the smuggled gold from the airport along with the recipient of the goods were also apprehended.

In all, 8 capsules containing gold dust in wax form, weighing 3.47 kg in net weight, were recovered and seized. Five persons, comprising two transit passengers, two airport staff members, and one recipient were arrested. The operation once again highlights that organised networks are increasingly exploiting transit routes and airport personnel for clandestine removal of smuggled gold.

Eight capsules with Gold in paste form seized at Mumbai

Earlier, in two separate operations on 31.08.26 and 06.09.2026, officers of DRI seized 1.6 kg foreign-origin gold from a passenger travelling by a train from Kolkata to Mumbai, leading to his arrest. In second operation, an arc-shaped 24-carat gold bar weighing around 700 grams was recovered from the motor of a treadmill imported from Hong Kong. Follow-up searches in Mumbai, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu led to the recovery of other dismantled machines and tools used for concealment. Two persons, including a Chinese national, were arrested

On 8-9.09.26, DRI, in coordination with Chandauli Police, Uttar Pradesh, took over the proceedings involving recovery of 22 foreign origin gold bars concealed in a box beneath the gearbox of the car. The occupants of the car could not produce documents in support of licit possession of recovered gold. The preliminary investigations indicated that the recovered gold had been smuggled from Bangladesh. Accordingly, the recovered gold weighing around 2.56 kg, was seized and both the persons were arrested by DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

On 8-9.09.26, DRI officers intercepted one passenger, who was found to be travelling on a fake identity, at the domestic arrival area of Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, who was suspected to have retrieved smuggled gold concealed inside an aircraft. On examination, five gold bar cut-pieces weighing around 1 kg were recovered from his baggage, One person was arrested.

In Chennai on 30.08/01.09.2026, DRI officers, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted two passengers arriving from Sri Lanka at Chennai International Airport in two different flights. Eight capsules containing gold in paste form were recovered through rectum concealment; extraction yielded 2.5 kg 24-carat gold. Investigation revealed insider collusion of airport staff. Six persons, including the two foreign passengers, were arrested in this case.

Gold concealed in Coffee Machine at Calicut

In two separate operations in Calicut on 01–02.09.2026, DRI officers seized 1.7 kg gold. In one case at Calicut International Airport, 770 grams of gold was extracted from gold-containing compound concealed in two capsules and a packet hidden inside the diaper worn by the passenger’s infant daughter. In another case, around 1 kg of 24-carat gold piece was recovered from the heavy metallic ring portion of a coffee machine carried in checked-in baggage by a passenger arriving from Dubai. Two persons were arrested.

DRI's intelligence-led and coordinated enforcement actions continue to disrupt organised gold-smuggling networks at multiple stages of the smuggling chain and prevent the illicit movement of precious metals into the country.