The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major gold smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, arresting seven individuals and seizing smuggled gold worth approximately ₹5 crore. The operation, codenamed “Operation Golden Nexus,” was carried out following specific intelligence inputs about an organized network involving foreign transit passengers and airport staff.
According to DRI officials, the agency recovered 3.2 kilograms of foreign-origin gold dust concealed in wax form. The contraband was allegedly being smuggled into India by transit passengers arriving from Bangkok and passing through Mumbai. Investigators said the syndicate used a sophisticated method in which gold was hidden inside the bodies of carriers to evade customs detection.
Among those arrested are three foreign nationals—one Bangladeshi and two Sri Lankan citizens—who allegedly acted as carriers. The remaining accused include three airport employees and one local receiver who was expected to collect the smuggled gold outside the airport premises. DRI officials stated that the airport staff played a crucial role in helping the syndicate move the contraband out of secure areas and deliver it to handlers.
The agency said it intercepted the airport staff members while they were allegedly handling and transporting the smuggled gold. A follow-up operation led to the identification and detention of the transit passengers, who were preparing to leave India on connecting international flights. The gold was subsequently recovered and seized under the provisions of the Customs Act.
Officials described the operation as a significant success in the fight against organized smuggling networks. They noted that the case highlights the increasing use of airport insiders by international smuggling syndicates and the need for continuous surveillance at major transit hubs. The DRI believes the arrests have effectively dismantled the entire chain involved in this particular operation.
The case has also sparked political reactions after reports indicated that one of the arrested airport employees held a position in a BJP-affiliated workers’ organization. Opposition leaders have demanded a thorough and transparent investigation, while authorities have emphasized that the probe will focus on the smuggling network and all individuals involved, irrespective of their affiliations.
The DRI has launched a detailed investigation to trace the wider network behind the smuggling racket and determine whether additional handlers or international links were involved. Officials expect more revelations as interrogations and forensic examinations continue.
