Kempegowda Airport Gold Smuggling Bust: DRI Seizes ₹5 Crore Worth of Concealed Gold
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport became the center of a major gold smuggling bust after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a high-intensity, intelligence-driven operation between April 6 and April 7. The coordinated surveillance led to the arrest of five individuals and the seizure of approximately 3.356 kg of high-purity gold, valued at nearly ₹5 crore.
Officials revealed that the accused employed an audacious smuggling method, concealing gold in capsule-shaped packets and paste form hidden inside their bodies to evade airport security. The unusual method underscores the increasing sophistication of gold smuggling networks and the lengths they go to bypass enforcement measures.
“The operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led surveillance and the vigilance of our teams at major international airports,” a DRI spokesperson stated. Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing to uncover the broader international syndicate behind the smuggling attempt.
This seizure is expected to act as a deterrent to similar attempts and demonstrates the continued crackdown on high-value contraband entering the country.
Investigators are now working to trace the source of the gold and any connections to larger smuggling rings operating globally.
