Bengaluru: In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, five persons were arrested at Kempegowda International Airport after officials recovered gold worth nearly ₹5 crore in a well-coordinated operation carried out over April 6 and 7.
The operation was led by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which described it as a 'well-coordinated surveillance operation' based on precise and actionable intelligence inputs.
Officials said approximately 3.356 kg of high-purity gold was seized from the accused. The contraband was ingeniously concealed in paste form within capsule-shaped packets and hidden in private parts of the carriers to evade detection.
The accused were intercepted at Terminal 2 of the airport. Authorities stated that the method used reflects the increasing sophistication of smuggling techniques employed by organised networks.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused were part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate involving foreign operatives, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, working in coordination with local facilitators.
The DRI noted that the network relied on both international carriers and domestic handlers to execute its operations, indicating a well-established and layered system.
According to officials, the syndicate followed a highly organised and clandestine modus operandi. Smugglers arriving from abroad reportedly chose transit routes through Bengaluru, often with extended layovers, to facilitate covert transfer of gold within the airport premises.
The transfer of contraband was allegedly carried out using a pre-arranged passcode system in sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, enabling them to bypass customs checks.
Investigators also revealed that the network used encrypted communication channels, including coded messages and disappearing chats, to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.
A significant development in the case is the suspected involvement of an airport insider. The DRI stated that the individual allegedly misused authorised access to restricted zones within the airport to receive and help smuggle out the gold.
This points to possible infiltration of the airport ecosystem by the smuggling network, raising concerns about internal security vulnerabilities.
The DRI has launched a detailed investigation to identify the key masterminds behind the operation and dismantle the entire network. Officials said efforts are ongoing to trace financial links, communication channels and other individuals involved in the syndicate.
The agency emphasised that the case highlights the evolving nature of smuggling operations and the growing nexus between international carriers and local enablers.
The seizure of gold worth nearly ₹5 crore at Bengaluru airport underscores the scale and sophistication of modern smuggling networks. With cross-border links and insider involvement suspected, authorities face the challenge of tightening surveillance and security systems. The outcome of the ongoing investigation is expected to shed more light on the network and lead to further arrests.