DRI arrests 2 airport staff, seizes smuggled gold worth ₹1.60 crore | Mumbai news

DRI arrests 2 airport staff, seizes smuggled gold worth 1.60 crore

Published on: Oct 20, 2025 05:24 AM IST

DRI officials said that the case highlights the increasing misuse of the access airport staff have within the airport premises. Officials also pointed out the coordinated involvement of multiple personnel in gold smuggling, including retrieving the goods from the aircraft, carrying it through restricted zones, and eventually handing it over to syndicate members outside the airport

MUMBAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested two contractual staff members at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and recovered 1.20 kg of smuggled gold worth around 1.60 crore on Saturday.

DRI arrests 2 airport staff, seizes smuggled gold worth <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1.60 crore
DRI arrests 2 airport staff, seizes smuggled gold worth 1.60 crore

Officers of the Mumbai zonal unit of the DRI, said they had received a tip off that foreign-origin gold was being smuggled within aircrafts and retrieved at CSMIA by the airport staff. In a discreet operation set up to monitor the smuggling, the DRI officials searched the cleaning staff of an airport services company after the passengers had deboarded and they had finished cleaning the aircraft.

DRI officials said that one of the staff members, seeing them and anticipating a search, rushed up to the aerobridge staircase and left a package in a corner before joining the rest. When officials recovered the packet they found 1.2 kg of packets of gold dust dissolved into wax. The DRI later found that the gold had a 24-karat purity and was valued at approximately 1.60 crore.

The DRI immediately identified, isolated, and interrogated the staff member, a team leader of the cleaning staff. He admitted that had left the gold at the top of the staircase to avoid getting caught, and added that it was his supervisor who had retrieved the gold from the aircraft and handed it to him. The DRI officials then also arrested the supervisor of the cleaning staff.

Investigations revealed that the smuggling syndicate involved international passengers who left the foreign origin gold in the aircrafts when they arrived in Mumbai. The gang’s modus operandi was to have airport services staff with authorized access retrieve the gold and safely take it out of the airport through a chain of people in on the smuggling.

DRI officials seized the gold under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the airport services team leader and his supervisor were arrested on Saturday.

DRI officials said that the case highlights the increasing misuse of the access airport staff have within the airport premises. Officials also pointed out the coordinated involvement of multiple personnel in gold smuggling, including retrieving the goods from the aircraft, carrying it through restricted zones, and eventually handing it over to syndicate members outside the airport. “Such activities pose a serious threat to the integrity and security of airport operations,” said DRI officials.

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
SHARE
close
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
Get App
crown-icon
Subscribe Now!
.affilate-product { padding: 12px 10px; border-radius: 4px; box-shadow: 0 0 6px 0 rgba(64, 64, 64, 0.16); background-color: #fff; margin: 0px 0px 20px; } .affilate-product #affilate-img { width: 110px; height: 110px; position: relative; margin: 0 auto 10px auto; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0.2px 0.5px #00000017; border-radius: 6px; } #affilate-img img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); } .affilate-heading { font-size: 16px; color: #000; font-family: "Lato",sans-serif; font-weight:700; margin-bottom: 15px; } .affilate-price { font-size: 24px; color: #424242; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:900; } .affilate-price del { color: #757575; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; margin-left: 10px; text-decoration: line-through; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge { font-size: 12px; border-radius: 4px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; color: #ffffff; background: #fcb72b; line-height: 15px; padding: 0px 4px; display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; min-width: 63px; height: 24px; text-align: center; margin-left: 10px; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge span { font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:900; margin-left: 5px; } .affilate-discount { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: end; margin-top: 10px } .affilate-rating { font-size: 13px; font-family: 'Lato', sans-serif; font-weight:400; color: black; display: flex; align-items: center; } #affilate-rating-box { width: 48px; height: 24px; color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: center; border-radius: 2px; background-color: #508c46; white-space: nowrap; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; gap: 4px; margin-right: 5px; } #affilate-rating-box img { height: 12.5px; width: auto; } #affilate-button{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; position: relative; } #affilate-button img { width: 58px; position: absolute; bottom: 42px; right: 0; } #affilate-button button { width: 101px; height: 32px; font-size: 14px; cursor: pointer; text-transform: uppercase; background: #00b1cd; text-align: center; color: #fff; border-radius: 4px; font-family: 'Lato',sans-serif; font-weight:900; padding: 0px 16px; display: inline-block; border: 0; } @media screen and (min-width:1200px) { .affilate-product #affilate-img { margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; } .affilate-product { display: flex; position: relative; } .affilate-info { width: calc(100% - 130px); min-width: calc(100% - 130px); display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between; } .affilate-heading { margin-bottom: 8px; } .affilate-rating .discountBadge { position: absolute; left: 10px; top: 12px; margin: 0; } #affilate-button{ flex-direction: row; gap:20px; align-items: center; } #affilate-button img { width: 75px; position: relative; top: 4px; } }