DRI Seizes ₹3.36 Crore Worth of Smuggled Gold at Airport

Rapid Summary:

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Hyderabad Zone foiled two major gold smuggling attempts at Rajiv Gandhi international Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad.
• A total of 3.38 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at ₹3.36 crore, was seized during the operations.
• On August 22, 2025, surveillance identified unclaimed baggage from a flight from Kuwait containing smuggled gold:

– Bag 1: Concealed 1,261.8 grams of gold worth ₹1.25 crore.
– Further investigation led to the passenger involved being intercepted in Annamayya district on September 16; his handler was apprehended on September 17 near Kadapa and confessed to orchestrating the plan.

• In a separate case:

– Bag contained an iron box concealing 2,117.8 grams of gold worth ₹2.11 crore.
– The related passenger was traced to YSR Kadapa district and intercepted on September 17; he also admitted involvement in smuggling activities.

• all three accused have been arrested under the Customs Act (1962) and remanded to judicial custody.
• Investigations into both cases are ongoing.

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Indian Opinion Analysis:

The successful interception by DRI highlights India’s robust enforcement mechanisms against illegal activities like gold smuggling-a crime that often undermines economic stability by impacting customs revenues and enabling black-market operations.

Gold has long been a high-value commodity susceptible to illicit trade due to its ease of transport and high financial returns in markets with demand-supply imbalances or restrictive import policies like India’s tight regulations on bullion imports. Smuggling networks frequently enough operate transnationally, exploiting vulnerabilities such as transit hubs near international airports.

The intelligence-driven operation exemplifies how proactive surveillance can disrupt criminal networks effectively while safeguarding national interests. Arresting individuals tied directly or indirectly to these crimes sets an important precedent for accountability but also underscores challenges posed by increasing sophistication in methodologies employed by smugglers.As investigations continue, strengthening measures including airport personnel training, advanced scanning technologies for baggage inspections at entry points might prove effective deterrents against future attempts-ensuring compliance with existing legal frameworks aimed at curtailing economic losses through illicit trade routes.

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