Overview
- The DRI intercepted a passenger-linked transfer at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport that led to the seizure of 1.02 kg of 24‑carat foreign-origin gold disguised as silver-coated kadas and the arrest of five people, with prosecutions filed under the Customs Act, 1962.
- The Indore seizure, which occurred on August 3, followed Operation Aero‑Bridge surveillance that identified an alleged aerobridge handoff involving an Air India Express employee and an executive assistant in Indore Customs.
- In a separate DRI action at Katni Junction, officers seized a 748.10 g gold bar concealed in a cloth waist belt and recovered another 220.9 g at a local jeweller, totaling 969 g of foreign-origin gold and three arrests.
- Kolkata police stopped a Rajasthan resident leaving the NSCBI airport domestic cargo area and recovered around 400 g of gold plus diamonds and silver in a case valued between about Rs 60 lakh and over Rs 1 crore as the probe continues.
- Authorities say the cases show evolving tradecraft—silver‑coating, body and cargo concealment, aerobridge handoffs—and raise concern about insider facilitation and downstream buyers in wholesale markets, so investigators are expanding enquiries to handlers, jewellers and airport and railway staff.