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In yet another instance of gold smuggling through international flight, the Ahmedabad Customs department on Friday seized a 24-carat gold chain weighing 506.80 grams, valued at ₹55.48 lakh, from a passenger who had arrived from Dubai.
According to Customs officials, the passenger landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on August 9, 2025, by flight SG-16.
Based on profiling and risk assessment, he was intercepted for examination. During checks, officers discovered that the passenger was wearing a thick gold chain that had not been declared.
The chain, of 24K purity, carried a market value of ₹55.48l akh and a tariff value of ₹49.48 lakh.
It was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Officials said that the passenger failed to provide valid documentation for carrying the gold, which exceeded permissible limits.
Ahmedabad airport has, in recent months, emerged as a hotspot for gold smuggling, with several seizures reported from passengers arriving from Gulf countries.
On September 1, Customs officials had seized 2.65 kg of gold worth ₹2.56 crore from another Dubai passenger who attempted to conceal the bullion. Earlier this year, multiple cases of gold concealed in clothing, electronic items and even body cavities were also detected.
Officials said that smugglers often use frequent travellers, small-time workers returning from Gulf nations, and even first-time fliers to transport gold in exchange for a commission.
The rise in such cases is linked to high import duties on the precious metal in India, which makes smuggling a lucrative business for organised syndicates.
The passenger in Friday’s case has been detained, and investigators are probing possible links with known gold smuggling networks. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of follow-up arrests.