Hid in Bottle cap
Customs officers first seen suspicious photographs throughout an X-ray screening of the passenger's baggage. This prompted them to conduct an in depth bodily examination. The search led to the invention of a spherical piece of gold, weighing 170 grams, hid beneath the cap of a plastic bottle. The passenger had arrived on flight AI-996 on October 25, 2025.
Delhi Customs confirmed the seizure and shared particulars of the operation.
“Delhi Customs at IGI Airport seized 170 grams of gold from an Indian passenger who arrived from Dubai on flight AI-996 dated October 25, 2025. The passenger was discreetly adopted from the flight gate and intercepted whereas making an attempt to exit via the inexperienced channel. Throughout the X-ray screening of his baggage, officers seen suspicious photographs. Upon detailed examination, a gold spherical was ingeniously hid beneath the cap of a plastic bottle. The recovered gold, weighing 170 grams, was seized beneath the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Additional investigation into the matter is underway,” stated Delhi Customs.
Prior Circumstances of Smuggling
This gold seizure follows latest, bigger busts at different Indian airports. Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai apprehended three passengers and seized a big amount of narcotics in two separate instances between October 20 and 21.
Within the first case, two passengers arriving from Hong Kong have been intercepted. Officers recovered 7.864 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (Marijuana) from a checked-in trolley bag. The unlawful substance has an estimated market worth of roughly Rs 7.86 crore.
Primarily based on separate intelligence, officers intercepted one passenger arriving from Bangkok. A search of his checked-in trolley bag led to the invention of 11.922 kg of suspected Hydroponic Weed, valued at roughly ₹11.922 crores.
All three people have been arrested beneath the Narcotic Medicine and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The mixed haul of narcotics from the 2 Mumbai instances totals 19.786 kg, with an estimated market worth of ₹19.786 crores. Additional investigation is ongoing.
(Supply: ANI)
