US citizen caught with 115 gold bars in his belt, pants at Delhi Airport

According to customs officials, the seized gold weighs approximately 3.565 kilograms and is valued at an estimated Rs 5.6 crore in the current market.

In Short

• The passenger had arrived in Delhi on a flight from San Francisco
• Customs said the seized consignment weighed about 3.565 kilograms
• The seized gold has a market value of Rs 5.6 crore

In a major crackdown on international gold smuggling, officials from the Air Intelligence Unit and the Customs department at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport intercepted an American citizen smuggling a massive consignment of gold.

The passenger, who arrived in the national capital on a flight from San Francisco, was caught carrying 115 gold bars concealed inside his pants and a specially designed belt. According to customs officials, the seized gold weighs approximately 3.565 kilograms and is valued at an estimated Rs 5.6 crore in the current market.

Upon detailed examination, the recovered bars were found to be of 24-karat purity with a 999.9 fineness rating. The entire consignment was immediately seized, and the accused passenger was arrested under the relevant sections of the Customs Act.

Senior officials told India Today that intense interrogation is currently underway to uncover the broader network behind this operation.

Authorities have noted a significant spike in gold smuggling cases recently, attributing the surge to the recent hike in customs duties, which has driven up the profit margins for illegal syndicates.

Operating under high-alert surveillance, the Air Intelligence Unit foiled this sophisticated attempt through targeted profiling and vigilant monitoring. Officials tracking the case revealed that international smuggling syndicates have become increasingly active, constantly deploying innovative concealment methods to bypass stringent airport security.

This latest recovery underscores the heightened vigilance of customs authorities, who remain on absolute alert against evolving contraband transit tactics. Further investigation is underway to identify the local handlers and receivers involved in this high-value international smuggling ring.

- Ends