Mumbai Airport: ₹2.15 Cr gold dust seized, Bangladeshi national and Airport staff arrested

Officers of the Airport Commissionerate under Mumbai Customs Zone-III seized 1.590 kg of 24-carat gold dust valued at ₹2,15,07,455 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during duty hours on January 17-18, 2026, officials said on Monday.

The seizure was made from a Bangladeshi national who had arrived from Dubai and was in transit to Dhaka. Acting on specific intelligence, customs officers intercepted the passenger while he was handing over the smuggled gold, concealed in capsule form, to an AIASL airport staff member .

Gold smuggling syndicates have increasingly been using transit passengers and airport insiders to evade security checks and move high-value consignments through Indian airports.

Two persons were arrested in connection with the case, the Bangladeshi national and the airport staff member under the provisions of the Customs Act. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the involvement of a wider smuggling network, officials added.