Ahmedabad customs foil new smuggling trick, seize Rs 1.93 crore gold paste from aircraft toilet

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A major gold smuggling operation has been uncovered at Ahmedabad’s international airport after customs officials discovered nearly 1.8 kg of the precious metal concealed in paste form inside an aircraft’s toilet, according to a TOI report.

The air intelligence unit (AIU) of the Customs department made the startling find during a routine search of a flight that had recently arrived from Dubai at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport.

The contraband, with a market valuation of approximately Rs 1.93 crore, is believed to signal an emerging tactic employed by smuggling networks.

A senior officer was cited by TOI as saying that a detailed rummage of the aircraft led to the discovery of two suspicious pouches hidden within the lavatory.

The pouches had a total weight of 2,196 grams. After a process of extraction, two solid 24-carat gold bars, weighing 1,867 grams, were recovered. The tariff value of the seized gold was assessed at Rs 1.77 crore.

The consignment was immediately seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. As reported by the TOI, sources within the department confirmed that an investigation is now underway to identify the individuals or network behind the smuggling attempt.

Officials theorise that the aircraft’s toilet was intended as a discreet drop-off point, a potential evolution from older methods where airport facilities were used.

The senior officer suggested the pouches were likely meant to be retrieved by an accomplice, perhaps during the aircraft's cleaning cycle or by another passenger.

An alternative theory posits that the carrier, potentially a first-time traveller recruited to avoid suspicion, may have abandoned the consignment after getting cold feet.

In a separate but related incident at the same airport, the Customs team intercepted two passengers returning from Cambodia via Malaysia on Sunday.

Based on specific intelligence, the individuals were stopped and searched, leading to the seizure of 52,400 foreign-made cigarette sticks valued at around Rs 8 lakh. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain the authenticity of the seized tobacco products.