Dubai Passenger Held in Delhi With Gold Worth US$421,000 Hidden in Door Fitting

NEW DELHI, Oct 20: In an unusual attempt to evade customs checks, an Indian passenger arriving from Dubai allegedly concealed gold rods inside a door floor spring carried in his luggage, with the recovered gold valued at around Rs 4 crore. (US$421,000)

The passenger landed at Delhi airport on October 19 and was intercepted by customs officers after his profile raised suspicion, according to the available details of the case.

A detailed examination of his baggage led to the discovery of gold rods concealed inside a floor spring — a mechanical fitting installed beneath a door to control its opening and closing. Investigators suspect the component was used as a cover to smuggle the gold past airport security and customs checks.

Customs authorities have registered a case under the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway.

The latest seizure adds to a series of cases in which passengers arriving from Dubai have allegedly tried to smuggle gold using unusual concealment methods.

Last month, two passengers arriving from Dubai were caught with 2.16 kg of gold bars, according to the details provided. Customs officers reportedly tracked the passengers from the flight gate based on intelligence inputs and passenger profiling. One passenger was found carrying 11 gold bars after triggering a strong alert on a metal detector.

In another case about a year ago, customs officers seized 170 grams of gold worth more than Rs 21 lakh from a passenger arriving from Dubai. The gold had allegedly been concealed inside the cap of a modified plastic bottle.

Customs officials described that method as a “novel modus operandi,” highlighting the increasingly unusual ways used to conceal precious metal and evade detection.

The latest case illustrates the challenges customs officers face as suspected smugglers resort to concealing gold inside everyday objects and mechanical components.

Passenger profiling, intelligence-led interceptions and detailed baggage examinations remain important tools in detecting such attempts. With gold continuing to attract smugglers seeking to evade applicable duties, customs authorities are closely examining suspicious travel patterns and unconventional concealment methods.

The investigation into the latest seizure is continuing