The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai's international airport, seizing 2.6 kg of gold in wax form, valued at approximately Rs 4.20 crore.
Customs officials at Delhi airport seized 115 smuggled gold bars weighing 3.5 kg from an American national of Indian origin, who allegedly concealed the contraband in a specially designed belt.
Revenue intelligence and customs officers are set to intensify surveillance and increase vigilance on international borders to combat potential gold smuggling following a significant increase in customs duty on gold.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a major gold-smuggling syndicate at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, seizing 3.2 kg of gold worth Rs 5 crore. Seven individuals, including Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals and three airport staff, have been arrested in connection with "Operation Golden Nexus."
Kannada film actress Ranya Rao is set to be released from Bengaluru Central Jail after a year of detention in a gold smuggling case.
The Customs department seized gold worth Rs 3.15 crore from two passengers at Mumbai airport, including a finance professional smuggling gold due to US-Iran conflict concerns.
Nepal's former parliament speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and others have been accused of facilitating gold smuggling, leading to a corruption case filed by the CIAA.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a gold smuggling operation at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, arresting 24 female carriers and seizing a significant quantity of gold.
The gems and jewellery industry anticipates challenging times following the government's decision to increase gold import duty to 15 per cent, a move that exporters warn could fuel the grey market and heighten smuggling risks.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, arresting five individuals and seizing a significant quantity of gold.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 29.37 kg of gold worth Rs 37.74 crore from 24 women at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, uncovering a significant smuggling operation.
Kerala Police have arrested 13 individuals for allegedly attempting to abduct a passenger arriving from abroad at Karipur airport and rob him of gold and cash. The operation was launched based on a tip-off, leading to the seizure of vehicles and the discovery of a larger conspiracy. Authorities are also investigating the possibility of the passenger carrying smuggled gold.
Customs officials at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport seized electronic items, cosmetics, cigarettes, and crude gold worth over Rs 1.79 crore from passengers arriving from Dubai, leading to one arrest.
Customs officials at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport arrested a passenger from Dubai for attempting to smuggle 899.50 grams of 24K gold, valued at Rs 1.37 crore, concealed in capsules.
Customs officials at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport have thwarted two separate gold smuggling attempts, seizing over 3.17 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 4.35 crore and arresting three foreign nationals.
Odisha police conducted coordinated raids across multiple districts targeting individuals involved in illegal cattle transportation and smuggling, resulting in significant seizures and detentions.
A jeweller in Beed district was allegedly assaulted and robbed of Rs 3 lakh by fraudsters who promised to sell him gold biscuits smuggled from Dubai. Two suspects were arrested after their motorcycle crashed during their escape, while others remain at large.
Junior Civil Aviation Minister G M Siddeshwara told Parliament that disciplinary action has been taken against the employees.
'Even last year, when India bought gold, the physical quantity was much less than the previous years.'
Despite a sharp increase in import duties on gold and silver to 15 per cent, the precious metals are trading at significant discounts in the domestic market, with gold seeing discounts of up to $200 an ounce and silver up to $6 an ounce.
The Indian government has increased import duties on gold and silver from 6 per cent to 15 per cent to curb inbound shipments of precious metals amid a rising import bill due to the West Asia crisis.
Former Nepal speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case dating back three years. He is accused of assisting criminal gangs in selling smuggled gold.
The British Broadcasting Corporation alleged that the UN had covered up claims that its troops in Congo had indulged in these activities, claiming it had new eye-witness accounts to refute UN claims that no weapon transfers had taken place. The report came against the backdrop of India having its biggest-ever peacekeeping contingent in the troubled African country.
Customs officials at Delhi's IGI Airport seized approximately 48 crore worth of hydroponic weed from two Thai nationals arriving from Bangkok, marking one of the largest narcotics recoveries at an Indian international airport in recent years.
The Karnataka government has revoked the suspension order of DGP K Ramachandra Rao and reinstated him into service with immediate effect, posting him as Director General of Police (Police Manual). Rao was suspended in January following allegations of misconduct and embarrassment to the state administration.
Customs officials at Delhi's IGI Airport seized suspected hydroponic weed worth approximately Rs 48 crore from two Thai nationals arriving from Bangkok.
An Air India Express flight cabin crew has been arrested by the Customs for allegedly smuggling over 1.4 kg gold through Cochin International Airport near Kochi, official sources said.
Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has imposed a hefty fine on Kannada film actress Ranya Rao and others in connection with a gold smuggling case. The actress was caught with 14.8 kg of gold at Bengaluru airport.
Customs officials at Delhi's IGI Airport seized over four kilogrammes of suspected marijuana valued at 4 crore from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok. Another person who had allegedly come to receive the consignment was also arrested.
The rise in illegal imports of the yellow metal has caught the eye of the finance ministry.
According to a source, Suhail Thanalot, a senior crew member of AIE and a native of Thillenkeri in Kannur district, was apprehended following intelligence and evidence compiled by the DRI regarding his involvement in the gold smuggling incident.
The searches by the ED also covered certain vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
A Special Court of Economic Offences in Bengaluru rejected the bail plea of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, who is accused of gold smuggling. The second accused, Tarun Raju, has been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days. Ranya, the stepdaughter of a DGP rank officer, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 after gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from her. Subsequent searches at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery and Indian currency. Authorities discovered that Tarun Raju allegedly facilitated the smuggling operation by coordinating the gold's transport and distribution within India.
AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has released an open letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging secret deals with BJP leaders and the central government, raising questions about the LDF government's functioning ahead of the Assembly elections.
Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment under COFEPOSA in connection with a gold smuggling case. She was caught with 14.2 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately Rs 12.56 crore, at Kempegowda International Airport.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully intercepted and seized 512 kg of red sanders at Cochin Port, preventing its illegal export to China. The red sanders were concealed within a consignment declared as rubber core veneer.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao, along with businessman Tarun Raju and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain, had their judicial custody extended until April 21 in connection with a gold smuggling case. The trio is accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai to India. The case came to light in March 2025 when Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai. Investigations revealed her association with Vira Diamonds Trading, a Dubai-based firm she co-founded with Tarun Raju, which authorities allege was used as a front for smuggling operations. Raju was arrested following evidence of his involvement in purchasing gold in Dubai and facilitating its illegal transport to India. Jeweller Sahil Jain is suspected of assisting Ranya in selling approximately 49 kilograms of smuggled gold valued at over Rs 40 crore and managing hawala transactions.
Officials were surprised at how quickly smugglers appraised the Covid situation to recruit jobless migrant workers to ship gold.
Kerala's voters are sophisticated, educated, and unforgiving. They have once again made it clear that no government is entitled to remain in power. The Congress would do well to remember this, points out Ramesh Menon.
