Gold Jewellery Worth ₹45.86 Lakh Recovered From Passenger at Delhi Airport

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport have seized gold jewellery worth ₹45.86 lakh from an Uzbekistan passport holder who arrived in Delhi from Almaty, officials said on Monday.

According to a Customs statement, the passenger was intercepted at the green channel after arriving at the airport on August 14. During a detailed examination, officials recovered 326 grams of gold jewellery allegedly concealed on the passenger’s person.

The recovered jewellery was valued at approximately ₹45.86 lakh, the statement said. The gold was subsequently seized by Customs authorities, and a case was registered under relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Passengers arriving in India are permitted to carry gold subject to prescribed conditions, quantity limits and payment of applicable Customs duty. However, undeclared or concealed gold intended to evade Customs duty can be seized and may lead to legal action under the law.

The latest seizure highlights continued Customs surveillance at major international airports to detect attempts to bring precious metals into the country without complying with import regulations.

Officials said the passenger was intercepted while using the green channel, which is meant for travellers who do not have dutiable or prohibited goods to declare. Passengers carrying goods that require declaration or payment of duty are required to use the appropriate channel and comply with Customs procedures.

The 326-gram recovery comes amid continued efforts by airport Customs authorities to curb gold smuggling and other forms of illicit imports through international passenger traffic.

Further details regarding the passenger and the circumstances surrounding the concealment were not immediately disclosed in the Customs statement.

The authorities have initiated proceedings under the Customs Act following the seizure. The case will determine the applicable legal action based on the circumstances of the recovery and whether the passenger violated the prescribed rules governing the import of gold into India.