Foreign nationals preferred over Indians to smuggle gold in Ahmedabad

Despite the reduction in gold import duty from 15% to 6%, smuggling remains high at airports at Gujarat, especially in Ahmedabad. Gold importers using illegal routes are increasingly relying on foreign nationals for smuggling. 

In the last five months, out of six gold smuggling cases detected at Ahmedabad airport, four involved foreign nationals, indicating a rising trust in foreign smugglers to push gold into the Indian market. 

Additionally, large-scale gold smuggling into India is increasingly being carried out by foreigners. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has also confirmed this trend.

Gold smuggling cases

On January 17, 2025, a Dubai national was caught smuggling over 661 grams of gold worth approximately ₹53 lakh.

On February 10, 2025, a husband and wife duo from Jeddah were caught with 1 kg of gold valued at around ₹94 lakh.

On March 1, 2025, another individual from Jeddah was caught smuggling 488 grams of gold worth ₹42.91 lakh.

On March 11, 2025, two passengers travelling from Thailand  were caught smuggling 1.45 kg of gold valued at approximately ₹1.29 crore.

On February 15, 2025, several nationals from Middle Eastern countries were caught smuggling gold into India.

Similar patterns were observed at Mumbai Airport:

On one occasion, two UAE (United Arab Emirates) nationals and one from Oman were caught smuggling 21 kg of gold hidden in their waistbands.

On February 14, 2025, three Iranian nationals were caught with 7.14 kg of smuggled gold.

On January 25, 2025, two Turkish nationals were apprehended smuggling 16 kg of gold through Mumbai airport.