CISF Foils Alleged ₹2.4 Crore Gold Smuggling Bid at Delhi’s IGI Airport
New Delhi, September 14, 2026: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has foiled an alleged gold smuggling attempt after a passenger on an international transfer route was found carrying about 1.597 kilograms of suspected gold concealed in undergarments. The seized material is valued at roughly ₹2.4 crore at prevailing market rates, and the passenger, along with the recovery, has been handed over to Customs for further action.
The interception occurred on 12 September during routine screening at the airport. According to the information shared, the passenger was travelling on an international transfer itinerary from Jeddah to Dhaka and was transiting through IGI Airport when CISF personnel on duty noticed three oval-shaped capsules hidden in the passenger’s undergarments during frisking.
The capsules were separated and examined, after which they were found to contain a gold-like substance. Customs later assessed the recovered material at approximately 1.597 kilograms. The passenger has been handed over for legal proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act. The passenger’s identity has not been disclosed.
Based on the price of 24-carat gold in India around the time of the seizure, when rates were in the range of about ₹15,100 to ₹15,300 per gram, the quantity recovered would translate to an estimated market value of around ₹2.4 crore. Officials, however, said the final tariff valuation will be determined by Customs.
CISF said the recovery reflects vigilant routine screening rather than an intelligence-led operation. The force said it provides security at more than 70 airports across the country and acts as the first line of defence against smuggling and related offences at civil airports.
The case also fits a pattern that airport security agencies have encountered repeatedly at IGI Airport, where transit passengers moving between international sectors have been linked to several recent gold-smuggling attempts. Common concealment methods have included clothing, body cavities and aircraft fittings, according to the source information.
Further investigation by Customs will determine the origin of the metal, the passenger’s role in the alleged smuggling attempt and whether a larger network is involved. At the time of writing, no additional official statement from CISF headquarters or Delhi Customs was available on the passenger’s nationality, flight number or whether an arrest had been made.
Legal proceedings will continue on the basis of the Customs examination and the related inquiries that follow.
