New Delhi, September 14, 2026: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have foiled an alleged gold smuggling attempt after detecting approximately 1.597 kilograms of suspected gold concealed on an international transfer passenger. At prevailing market rates, the recovery is valued at about ₹2.4 crore. The passenger and the recovered material have been handed over to Customs for further action.
The interception took place on 12 September during routine security screening. The passenger was travelling on an international transfer itinerary from Jeddah to Dhaka and was passing through IGI Airport. During frisking, CISF staff on duty observed three oval-shaped capsules concealed in the passenger’s undergarments.
The capsules were isolated for examination and found to contain a gold-like substance. Customs officials subsequently assessed the material at approximately 1.597 kilograms. The passenger, along with the recovered capsules, was handed over for legal proceedings under the applicable provisions of the Customs Act. The identity of the passenger has not been made public.
Twenty-four-carat gold in India was trading in the range of about ₹15,100 to ₹15,300 per gram around the date of the seizure. On that basis, 1.597 kilograms corresponds to an estimated market value of roughly ₹2.4 crore, though the official tariff valuation will be determined by Customs.
CISF stated that the force provides security at more than 70 airports across the country and functions as the first line of defence against smuggling and related offences at civil airports. The agency described the detection as a result of alertness during routine frisking rather than a separate intelligence-led operation.
Transit passengers moving between international sectors through IGI Airport have featured in several recent gold-smuggling cases, with concealment in clothing, body cavities, and aircraft fittings remaining common methods. Further investigation by Customs will determine the origin of the metal, the passenger’s role, and whether a wider network is involved.
No additional official statement from CISF headquarters or Delhi Customs on the passenger’s nationality, flight number, or subsequent arrest status was available at the time of writing. Legal action will proceed on the basis of the Customs examination and related inquiries.
