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41 Smuggling in India Report 2024-25

Key Gold Smuggling Routes

A. Gold Smuggling via Air

Air routes, especially flights from the Middle East and Southeast Asia that connect
to metro and Tier-II airports, are the primary channel for gold smuggling into
India. Smugglers exploit diverse passenger profiles, including women, families
and airline crew, to smuggle gold into India. Increasingly, smugglers are also con-
cealing gold inside aircraft cavities for later retrieval by crew or passengers or air-
port staff. Sometimes, gold concealed in the aircraft during the international leg
is retrieved by passengers during the domestic leg of the aircraft. Further, transit
passengers smuggle gold via body concealment and hand it over to airport staff.
Various modes of concealment of gold smuggled via air are mentioned below.

i. Concealment in Person

a. On-Body Concealment

Smuggling gold through on-body concealment has become a common tactic
among organized syndicates, especially for large quantities. Carriers use specially
modified clothing and accessories, such as compression belts, undergarments,
knee braces, socks, and reinforced waistbands, to hide gold discreetly on their
body.

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