Operation Dhahabu Blitz: DRI's huge success in Mumbai with 30kg Gold haul

The operation, codenamed Dhahabu Blitz, led to the interception of 24 foreign nationals. Officials recovered 25.10 kg of gold bars along with 4.27 kg of gold jewellery from the passengers after a swift and coordinated action.

Mumbai: In a major crackdown on organised gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an international syndicate, seizing 29.37 kg of gold worth Rs 37.74 crore and arresting 24 carriers. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials tracked a group of women arriving from Nairobi who were allegedly attempting to smuggle large quantities of gold through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday.

The operation, codenamed Dhahabu Blitz, led to the interception of 24 foreign nationals. Officials recovered 25.10 kg of gold bars along with 4.27 kg of gold jewellery from the passengers after a swift and coordinated action.

According to investigators, the case points to a well-organised smuggling network that relied on trained carriers and carefully planned methods to bypass airport security.

The DRI said it will continue its efforts to dismantle such syndicates, noting that gold smuggling poses a serious threat to the country’s economic stability and national interests.

Notably, last month, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) also unearthed an organised syndicate involved in the smuggling of foreign-origin gold into India, its transportation through rail route, melting and defacing at illegal facilities, and clandestine sale in the domestic market. The operation resulted in seizure of gold, silver and Indian currency collectively valued at over Rs 14.13 crore and the arrest of six persons. In total, 8286.81 grams of gold valued at Rs 13.41 crore, 7350.4 grams of silver valued at Rs 19.67 Lakh, and Indian currency amounting to Rs 51,74,100 were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

In January, the DRO launched a major crackdown on trans-border smuggling and conducted searches at Delhi and Agartala and busted a well-organised international gold smuggling syndicate, operating from Dubai and Bangladesh. The action led to the seizure of more than 29 kg foreign-origin gold and cash worth approximately Rs 2.90 crore. Based on specific intelligence, on 6th January 2026, a key syndicate member was apprehended from a domestic logistics warehouse, while taking delivery of two consignments originating from Agartala, Tripura. Examination of the consignments led to the recovery of 15 kg of foreign-origin gold, bearing international refinery markings, valued at approximately Rs 20.73 crore.