Powdered gold hidden in packaged food: Three arrested at Mumbai airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Sep 28, 2026: In a major swoop, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs intercepted three Indian passengers at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for smuggling gold in powdered form.

The operation was carried out last week by the DRI’s Mumbai Zonal Unit and AIU of Mumbai Airport Customs.

The three passengers arrived from Dubai, officials of DRI and AIU said.

“Detailed examination of their baggage revealed a highly sophisticated and unusual method of concealment, wherein foreign-origin gold had been converted into fine powder and meticulously mixed with packaged food products of similar colour, texture and consistency to evade detection,” the officials added.

The gold powder was found concealed across several apparently ordinary food packets like milk powder, oats, various flours and coconut milk powder.

In all, approximately 33.50 kg of food products mixed with gold powder were recovered from the baggage of the three passengers.

Through careful segregation and assaying, 9.40 kg foreign-origin gold, valued at approximately Rs 14.81 crore, was recovered and seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

During questioning, all three passengers admitted to acting on behalf of the same organised gold-smuggling syndicate.

They were accordingly arrested under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

“The operation has uncovered a novel and sophisticated method of gold smuggling, wherein powdered gold was ingeniously blended with a wide variety of packaged food products to evade routine detection,” officials said.