Gold worth ₹200 crore seized at Ahmedabad airport in three years

Gold worth nearly ₹200 crore has been seized at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad over the past three years, with authorities reporting a steady rise in smuggling attempts, officials said.

According to Customs officials, around 10 kg of gold has been confiscated during this period. In the last two decades, as many as 589 cases of gold smuggling have been registered at the airport, indicating a significant increase in such activities.

Data shows a decline in cases in recent years. While 274 cases were registered in 2023, the number fell to 250 in 2024 and further dropped to 65 in 2025. Senior Customs officials said specific routes frequently used for smuggling are under close surveillance, but smugglers continue to change their methods.

In one instance, gold was concealed within the folds of a turban in a thin layer, while in another case it was hidden in the lining of a bag. Officials said international smuggling networks regularly adopt new techniques, requiring constant vigilance.

In 2025, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence busted a smuggling racket involving airline staff. Investigations revealed that the syndicate had smuggled gold worth ₹16 crore in two months.

Officials said smugglers earn profits of around ₹15 lakh per kg of gold. Couriers are typically paid between ₹4 lakh and ₹5 lakh, along with return tickets to destinations such as Thailand or the Middle East and short stays abroad. Despite these costs, syndicates reportedly make net profits of around ₹10 lakh per kg.

How is gold smuggled?

Authorities also outlined common methods used in gold smuggling. These include concealing gold in the body by converting it into paste and ingesting capsules, hiding strips under clothing, and coating machine parts or garments with gold in chemical form.

Other techniques involve hiding gold inside electronic items such as mobile phones, power banks and irons, concealing it in false compartments in luggage, or disguising it within food items such as chocolates, dates and biscuit packets.