Hyderabad airport: DRI seizes ₹2.25 crore gold, passenger arrested in mid-flight handover case

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 1.48 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at approximately ₹2.25 crore, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad, and arrested the passenger who was allegedly carrying it. According to the agency, the gold was concealed in a specially designed pouch worn beneath his garments.

Officials said the DRI's Hyderabad Zonal Unit acted on specific intelligence and intercepted the passenger at the airport. A search led to the recovery of six pieces of gold weighing a total of 1,481.780 grams. The pieces had been wrapped in blue adhesive tape and carbon paper before being placed in the pouch.

The passenger had arrived in Hyderabad from Tiruchirappalli on a domestic flight that had earlier operated an international sector. The case has drawn attention for the method of transport it points to. According to the DRI, the passenger stated that he had collected the consignment from inside the aircraft, where it had been concealed during the flight's preceding international leg.

The intelligence developed by the agency indicated that the gold was placed aboard the aircraft after its arrival from a foreign destination, and was then to be retrieved by a passenger travelling on the same aircraft during its onward domestic journey to Hyderabad. Officials did not name the passenger or the airline involved.

The six gold pieces, together valued at approximately ₹2.25 crore, were seized under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The passenger was arrested on October 6 under relevant provisions of the Act. The DRI said further investigation into the smuggling operation is under way, and that additional details have not been made public at this stage.

Under Indian law, a person arrested in a case is an accused, and is presumed innocent until a competent court holds otherwise. The investigation will determine the roles, if any, of others who may have been involved in placing or retrieving the consignment.

The seizure highlights a long-standing challenge for Indian authorities: the movement of gold into the country without payment of applicable customs duty. Gold attracts import duty in India, and the gap between domestic and overseas prices has for years made smuggling attractive to organised networks. Airports are a frequent point of interception, with carriers sometimes concealing metal on their person, in baggage, or in cargo.

The concealment described in this case reflects a recurring concern for enforcement agencies — the use of commercial aircraft themselves as a means of moving contraband between sectors, with the handover timed to a domestic leg when scrutiny of international arrivals may be lighter.

The DRI is the apex intelligence and investigative agency under the Department of Revenue, tasked with detecting and dismantling smuggling networks and cases of duty evasion. Seizures made under the Customs Act can lead to confiscation of goods, penalties, and prosecution before a competent court, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Officials have not indicated whether any other person has been identified or detained in connection with the case. The seized gold remains in the custody of the agency pending further proceedings.