Delhi Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport seize 6.5 kg of gold worth about Rs 9 crore and arrest eight passengers, including a woman, in connection with an alleged smuggling attempt.
Officials say the action follows a tip-off and targets Emirates Flight EK-514 (Dubai–Delhi), dated 21 September 2026. Customs officials conduct a search of the aircraft and recover gold concealed beneath two seats in three small bags. The gold is reportedly disguised as chains and is sprayed with silver and black colouring to make it less noticeable. Investigators then trace the recovery to passengers travelling on the same flight, who are questioned and arrested.
Customs officials state the group allegedly travelled to Dubai under the pretext of attending exhibitions and adopted a method of wearing the gold in the form of jewellery and chains to avoid scrutiny and evade detection. After medical examination, the accused are produced before the Patiala House Court and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Sources also indicate further investigation continues to determine the broader network and the gold’s source and intended destination.
