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Join NowGold Smuggling: In a shocking incident at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, vigilant Customs officials successfully thwarted a brazen attempt to smuggle nearly a kilogram of gold into the country. The authorities apprehended a female passenger who had ingeniously concealed gold bars, valued at lakhs of rupees on the open market, in her undergarments. The dramatic seizure took place on Friday after the passenger arrived from Yangon, Myanmar, on flight number 8M 620.
According to official sources, the woman attempted to slip through the airport’s Green Channel, a designated passage for travelers who declare they are not carrying any restricted or dutiable goods. However, her suspicious behavior and nervous demeanor caught the attention of alert Customs officers stationed in the area. Acting on their instincts, the officials intercepted her for a more thorough inspection, a move that would soon expose a major smuggling operation.
During the personal search, the officers made a stunning discovery. The woman had carefully hidden six rectangular gold bars inside her undergarments, a desperate tactic often employed by smugglers to evade detection. Upon extraction, the gold bars were weighed, amounting to a substantial total of 997.5 grams. This high-value contraband was immediately seized by the Customs Department under the strict provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Authorities have confirmed that smuggling gold or other valuable items into the country without a proper declaration is a serious offense with severe legal consequences. The confiscated gold has been impounded, and a case has been registered against the female passenger. A deeper investigation is now underway to determine the full extent of this smuggling network and to find out if the woman was acting alone or as a courier for a larger international smuggling syndicate. These “airport busts” are becoming increasingly crucial in the global fight against illegal gold trafficking.
In an official statement, Delhi Customs reiterated its commitment to cracking down on all illegal activities and maintaining the integrity of India’s borders. The department runs regular, targeted search operations to prevent smuggling and has warned international travelers about the importance of compliance. Officials have made it clear that any passenger returning from foreign travel must honestly declare all valuable items and gold in their possession. Failure to adhere to these regulations will result in strict legal action, including potential arrest and confiscation of goods. This incident serves as a stark reminder to smugglers that Indian airports, especially high-traffic hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, remain on high alert for such illicit activities.
