In a crackdown known as “Operation Golden Sweep,” the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai has uncovered and dismantled a gold smuggling ring at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The authorities seized 4 kilograms of foreign-origin gold worth Rs 4.64 crore and arrested four individuals, including an airport employee, two handlers, and a passenger involved in the smuggling operation.
According to DRI officials, the syndicate members traveled from Niamey, Niger to Mumbai carrying concealed gold on their persons. Upon arrival, the smugglers stashed the gold in the overhead cabin compartments of the aircraft. An airport services staff member then retrieved the gold, exited the airport premises, and handed it over to handlers for further distribution through intermediaries.
The investigation is ongoing to identify additional members of the syndicate and track the financial transactions associated with the illicit operation. Just days before this incident, DRI authorities seized 10.5 kilograms of 24-karat gold valued at Rs 12.58 crore and apprehended 13 individuals, including two airport personnel, in a similar case.
With these recent seizures, “Operation Golden Sweep” has yielded over 14 kilograms of smuggled gold valued at approximately Rs 17 crore. Officials have expressed concerns over the escalating collaboration between airport staff and organized smuggling networks, highlighting the serious economic and security threats posed by such activities.
The DRI has reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding India’s economic interests and securing its borders against transnational smuggling networks.