Customs seize gold worth ₹1.93 cr from Indigo airline’s toilet, cigarette sticks worth ₹8 lakh from another flight

In twin operations carried out on August 24, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs seized nearly two kilograms of gold valued at over ₹1.93 crore and contraband cigarettes worth around ₹8 lakh at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

According to Customs officials, during a routine search of Indigo flight 6E-1478, which had arrived from Dubai, AIU staff recovered two pouches suspected to contain gold paste concealed in the aircraft's toilet. The pouches together weighed 2,196.61 grams. After extraction, officers derived two gold bars weighing 1,867.31 grams of 24-karat purity.

The seized gold was assessed at a market value of ₹1.93 crore and ₹1.77 crore under tariff value. It was taken into custody under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

In a separate interception on the same day, AIU officers detained two passengers who had arrived from Cambodia via Malaysia on flight MH202. Examination of their baggage led to the recovery of 52,400 cigarette sticks, collectively valued at approximately ₹8 lakh.

Customs officials said both seizures are under investigation to establish whether organised syndicates are behind the smuggling attempts and to trace those orchestrating the operations.

“Smuggling syndicates are increasingly resorting to innovative concealment methods and deploying passenger carriers. The AIU remains vigilant and committed to curbing such illegal imports,” a senior Customs officer said.