In yet another case of gold smuggling through unconventional means, customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) arrested a passenger arriving from Dubai who was allegedly carrying over a kilogram of gold hidden in his rectum.
According to an official statement from Delhi Customs, the passenger was intercepted based on intelligence inputs on November 7, 2024. Upon closer examination, authorities recovered three oval-shaped capsules containing gold in chemical paste form, which had a gross weight of 1,124 grams.
The gold, valued at ₹72,47,891, was carefully extracted and processed, revealing one rectangular bar, one triangular bar, and an unevenly shaped gold bar weighing a total of 957.57 grams.
The passenger was placed under arrest under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962, and the gold was confiscated under Section 110 of the same law. Further investigations are underway to determine possible links to larger smuggling networks.
The Growing Trend of ‘Creative’ Gold Smuggling
India has long been one of the world’s largest consumers of gold, but rising import duties—currently at 12.5%—have fueled a growing underground market. Smugglers continue to devise increasingly inventive methods to evade detection, often risking health and imprisonment in the process.
The rectum concealment method is not new but remains one of the riskiest forms of smuggling. Authorities say this technique is favored by carriers (or “mules”) working for organized smuggling syndicates, as it allows them to pass undetected through airport security checks—at least in theory.
Officials also seized 408 grams of smuggled gold from a passenger arriving from Riyadh on the same day, further highlighting how prevalent gold smuggling has become. In this case, the gold was hidden inside a milk powder box—one of many increasingly creative concealment methods.
From Microwave Ovens to RT-PCR Kits: The Evolution of Gold Smuggling
Delhi Customs has intercepted gold hidden in suitcase rods, socks, deodorant bottles, alarm clocks, and even medical bandages. In recent years, smugglers have taken it a step further by converting gold into paste form, allowing it to be easily concealed in clothing, waistbands, shirt collars, and even inside personal belongings like mobile phone batteries.
The former Deputy Commissioner of Customs at Hyderabad Airport, Rohit Prakash Joshi, explained why this illicit trade remains rampant:
- “Gold with 24-carat purity cannot be imported without paying duty. To bypass this, passengers often wear gold disguised as jewelry or hide it in everyday items like toys, irons, or inside the lining of their clothes.”
- “More recently, smugglers have started carrying gold in paste form, which can be hidden in waistbands, shirt collars, and even stitched inside undergarments.”
Authorities also warn of a third category of unintentional smugglers—passengers who are unknowingly used as couriers by friends or family. These individuals may carry gold-laced parcels without knowing their contents, only to be detained by customs upon arrival.
How Customs Officials Detect Smugglers
Despite the smugglers’ increasingly sophisticated methods, airport security has evolved too. Customs officers rely on a combination of technology and behavioral profiling to identify potential offenders.
- Metal Detectors & X-Ray Scanners – Standard airport screening detects metal objects and highlights anomalies in baggage and body scans.
- Advanced Body Scanners – Newer imaging technology can identify hidden objects inside the human body.
- Suspicious Behavior Analysis – Customs officials are trained to spot nervous body language and unusual travel patterns.
- Detailed Interrogations – If a passenger appears suspicious, thorough questioning and frisking are conducted.
Joshi emphasizes that common sense remains an officer’s most valuable tool.
- “With experience, officers develop an instinct for spotting suspicious passengers based on subtle behaviors—avoiding eye contact, excessive sweating, or hesitation when answering routine questions.”
- “However, identifying a smuggler is only the first step. A detailed investigation is required to confirm the crime.”
India’s Role in the Global Gold Smuggling Trade
India is one of the largest gold markets in the world, and smuggling plays a significant role in meeting domestic demand.
According to a report titled ‘Golden Web’ published by the Canadian agency Impact, nearly one-third of the world’s gold flows through India, much of it via illicit channels. The study found that:
- Gold is often smuggled from Uganda to the UAE and then into India.
- Illicit trade is often financed through hawala transactions.
- India’s actual gold imports could be 25% higher than official figures suggest.
As import duties remain high, smugglers are expected to continue finding new ways to outsmart customs officials—even if it means risking their own health to do so.
What Happens Next?
With gold smuggling cases on the rise, customs and intelligence agencies are tightening airport surveillance and increasing crackdowns on organized smuggling syndicates.
Meanwhile, officials urge international travelers to stay informed about customs regulations and avoid carrying parcels for others without verifying their contents.
As for the passenger caught at IGI Airport with gold hidden in his rectum—he remains in custody as investigators attempt to determine whether he was acting alone or as part of a larger smuggling operation.
For now, one thing is clear: smugglers will continue pushing boundaries—but so will customs officials.
