Gold worth ₹1 crore seized at Amritsar airport; three passengers, including woman arrested

July 2, 2026

Gold worth ₹1 crore has been seized at Amritsar Airport. Three passengers, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with this. The trio was smuggling the gold by concealing it in paste form and within bangles and chains. Teams from the Customs Department and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) carried out the operation. According to Customs officials, the recovered gold has been confiscated.

Cases have been registered against the apprehended passengers under various sections of the Customs Act, 1962. The department has initiated an investigation to determine if an international gold smuggling syndicate is behind these incidents.

Suspicion regarding a passenger arriving from Sharjah
A joint team of DRI Amritsar and Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Sharjah on flight 6E1428 based on suspicion. During a detailed examination, X-ray scanning, and personal search, 174 grams of gold in paste form was recovered from his possession. After extraction, the gold weighed 150.04 grams, with an estimated international market value of ₹22,05,588. The gold was being smuggled concealed inside his shoes.

Female passenger smuggled gold in paste form
Customs officials intercepted a female passenger arriving from Sharjah on flight IX-138 for examination. During the detailed check and X-ray scanning, 114 grams of gold in paste form was recovered from her. Upon examination, it weighed 90.21 grams, valued at ₹13,26,087.

Two gold bangles and a chain recovered
According to Customs officials, a male passenger arriving in Amritsar from Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur on flight MH-118 was intercepted. During the search, two 24-carat gold bangles and a chain were recovered from his possession. The total weight of the recovered gold is reported to be 484 grams, and its value is stated to be ₹70,66,400.