Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi have caught a gold smuggling attempt by intercepting a male Iraqi national who arrived from Baghdad on April 7, 2025. The passenger, traveling on flight number IA-443, was flagged at the exit of the green channel in Terminal 3 using advanced profiling techniques.
The suspicions were raised when the passenger triggered a strong beep during the Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) check. This prompted a thorough examination of both the passenger and his baggage. An X-ray screening of the luggage revealed suspicious images, leading to a detailed manual inspection.
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During the search, customs officials discovered a substantial amount of assorted yellow metal jewelry, which was silver-coated and suspected to be gold. The total weight of the recovered items was a staggering 1203 grams. The gold was ingeniously concealed within the baggage, clearly indicating an intention to smuggle it into the country.
Gold Smuggling at Delhi Airport
The customs department is currently conducting further investigations to determine the purity and valuation of the seized gold, as well as potential contraventions under the Customs Act, 1962.