HYDERABAD — Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) detained a passenger on Oct. 7, 2026, after uncovering a forged seafarer form and gold bars estimated at ₹2.25 crore of foreign origin. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) subsequently seized gold worth ₹1.20 crore from the same individual.
The passenger, whose identity has not been disclosed, arrived on a flight from Muscat. Airport security flagged the seafarer document during routine verification. Investigators determined that the form was fabricated, prompting a deeper inspection of the passenger’s luggage.
Customs officers found several gold bars concealed in a suitcase. Laboratory analysis confirmed the gold’s foreign provenance, a violation under the Customs Act, 1962, which restricts the import of unaccounted foreign-origin precious metals. The total value of the gold, calculated at the prevailing market rate of ₹9,800 per gram, amounted to ₹2.25 crore.
Seizure details and legal context
Following the discovery, the DRI, the central agency tasked with preventing smuggling, seized an additional cache of gold weighing approximately 12 kilograms, valued at ₹1.20 crore. The agency recorded the seizure under Section 5 of the Customs Act, which empowers officials to confiscate contraband and initiate prosecution.
According to the DRI’s preliminary report, the passenger failed to declare the gold in the customs declaration form, a breach that can attract penalties of up to 10% of the value of the undeclared goods, plus possible imprisonment of up to three years under the Customs (Import) Regulations, 2021.
Airport police transferred the passenger to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s office for further questioning. The case has been forwarded to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Ministry of Finance to examine potential links to organized smuggling networks.
Broader enforcement trends
Customs officials have reported an increase in attempts to smuggle foreign-origin gold through Indian airports over the past year. The Ministry of Finance’s quarterly report for Q3‑2026 noted a 14% rise in gold seizures compared with the same period in 2025.
The DRI’s regional office in Hyderabad recorded 27 gold‑related interceptions in the first nine months of 2026, up from 22 in the previous year. Officials attribute the uptick to heightened scrutiny of travel documents and the use of advanced scanning equipment at major airports.
Authorities have warned that the import of foreign gold without proper declaration undermines the Reserve Bank of India’s efforts to monitor foreign exchange inflows and can distort domestic gold market prices.
Legal proceedings pending
The passenger remains in custody pending a formal charge sheet. Under Indian law, the prosecution must file a charge within 60 days of detention, after which the court will determine bail eligibility.
The DRI has indicated that it will seek confiscation of the seized gold under the provisions of the Smugglers’ Prohibition Act, 2002, which allows the government to forfeit assets linked to smuggling offenses.