Page 86 - final fill 160 v28 with bleed.ai

43 Smuggling in India Report 2024-25

Case 3: 14.20 kg gold seized from a passenger in Bengaluru

In March 2025, DRI officers intercepted a female passenger who had arrived
from Dubai to Bengaluru. Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.20 kg
were found concealed on her thighs and waist using tapes and bandages.

b. In-Body Concealment

A more sophisticated and dangerous method involves
concealing gold inside the human body. Syndicates mould
gold in wax form into small capsules, which are then
inserted into body cavities to evade detection by scanners
and manual checks. This trend reflects a growing shift
toward high-risk concealment techniques that endanger
both the carrier’s health and national security.

Case 4: Airline cabin crew member held for smuggling gold inside
body in Kannur

In May 2024, personal search of the lady cabin crew member of a flight
from Muscat to Kannur resulted in the recovery of four capsules containing
962 grams of gold in wax form.

ii. Concealment in Aircraft

In FY 2024–25, concealment in aircraft emerged as a growing tactic. Gold hidden
behind seat panels, tray tables, lavatory panels, cabin lights, and life-jacket com-
partments during the international leg of the aircraft was later retrieved during
the domestic leg. Retrieval of the concealed gold was often carried out with the
help of maintenance staff, crew members, cleaning staff, or domestic passengers.

final fill 160 v28 with bleed.pdf 86 12/19/2025 3:27:27 PM