DRI seizes 29 kg gold worth over ₹37 cr at Mumbai airport, 26 foreign nationals arrested

The Directorate of Revenue (DRI) Intelligence has seized 29 kg gold with an estimated  worth of over ₹37cr at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during an operation.

In this operation, a highly organised network of  allegedly smuggling gold  was exposed by arresting 26 foreign nationals.

DRI Mumbai conducted an operation named “Operation Dhahabu Blitz”  to intercept the smuggling chain. During the operation, officers identified a group of female carriers arriving from Nairobi, Kenya, trying to evade the check as all were carrying large quantities of gold after carriers checked in on April 8. 

This interception action led to the seizure of 25.10 kg gold bars and 4.27 kg gold jewellery from foreign nationals over an estimated worth of ₹37 crores   and exposed a highly organized network.

In the operation it is found that a smuggling syndicate recruited Sudanese and Kenyan nationals, primarily elderly women who would create disturbance and evade detection at the time of checking. There are 26 foreign nationals arrested, mostly from Kenya.

Reportedly, all the accused are sent to judicial custody.