AHMEDABAD: Customs authorities at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI) in Ahmedabad have seized nearly 2.8 kilograms of smuggled gold worth more than ₹4.26 crore from an IndiGo flight that arrived from Dubai on June 12, 2026.
According to officials, the recovery was made during a detailed inspection of IndiGo Flight 6E-1478 after it landed in Ahmedabad. Acting on suspicion, Customs officers carried out an extensive search of the aircraft with the assistance of aircraft engineers.
During the operation, officials discovered two concealed packets wrapped in black plastic tape inside a speaker compartment located in the aircraft’s front lavatory. The hidden packets were carefully removed and examined.
Upon opening the pouches, Customs personnel found 24 foreign-origin gold biscuits bearing 999.0 purity, equivalent to 24-carat gold. The total weight of the seized gold was recorded at 2,799.3 grams. Authorities estimated the local market value of the recovered gold at ₹4,26,89,325.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the gold had been deliberately hidden inside the aircraft in an attempt to smuggle it into India while evading Customs detection. Officials said the method of concealment indicated a well-planned effort by an unidentified individual or group to transport the precious metal illegally.
Despite inquiries and verification procedures, no passenger, crew member, or any other person came forward to claim ownership of the recovered gold. As a result, the entire consignment was treated as unclaimed property and seized under the applicable provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Customs authorities have initiated further investigations to identify those responsible for concealing the gold and to determine the intended recipients of the consignment. Investigators are also examining possible links to organized gold-smuggling networks operating on international routes.
Gold smuggling through airports remains a significant challenge for enforcement agencies, with traffickers often employing innovative methods to evade security checks. Concealment within aircraft components and other hidden compartments has been detected in several cases in recent years.
Officials reiterated that strict surveillance and intelligence-based operations continue at major airports across the country to curb illegal imports and safeguard revenue interests. The latest seizure is being viewed as another major success in the ongoing efforts to combat cross-border smuggling activities.
Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
