26/05/2026
With gold prices surging and import duty rising from 6% to 15%, enforcement agencies are witnessing a sharp rise in gold smuggling attempts across Indian airports, especially at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
Authorities say organised syndicates are increasingly using air routes from Gulf nations and Africa, employing concealment methods ranging from hidden compartments and stitched clothing to chocolate packets and even iron presses.
Recent seizures by DRI and Customs highlight how smuggling networks quickly adapt to market conditions, shifting focus to commodities offering higher profit margins. Officials continue to rely on passenger profiling, behavioural analysis, and intelligence-based surveillance to curb these operations.