Mumbai Customs has seized goods valued at ₹34.95 crore and arrested 32 people during a 12-day anti-smuggling operation at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, including the interception of nine fennec foxes. The action covered 66 cases registered between 5 and 16 October 2026.
According to Customs, the seized items included gold, narcotics, diamonds, foreign currency, luxury watches, electronic devices, cigarettes and wildlife. The operation at Mumbai’s international airport brought together cases involving financial offences, drug trafficking, prohibited imports and the illegal movement of animals.
Customs officials seized 15.075 kilograms of gold valued at approximately ₹19.05 crore. They also recovered 19.178 kilograms of narcotics, including substances made from hydroponically grown cannabis, with an estimated value of ₹7.73 crore.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 2,088.70 carats of diamonds valued at ₹6.51 crore. Other recoveries included US$23,100 in foreign currency, watches worth around ₹90 lakh, 30 iPhones, six high-end laptops, wearable electronic devices and 56,000 cigarette sticks. Customs placed the value of these other items at ₹52.63 lakh.
The wildlife seizure involved nine fennec foxes. Eight were found alive and one was found dead. The fennec fox is native to the Sahara desert region of North Africa and is known for its small size, pale coat and unusually large ears. The species is frequently sought in the illegal exotic-pet trade, according to the report.
The seizure also highlights how international airports function as enforcement points for several overlapping regulatory systems. Customs authorities deal with the movement of goods and revenue-related offences, while cases involving narcotics and wildlife can trigger action under separate laws. In this operation, officials said proceedings were being pursued under the Customs Act, 1962, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and wildlife protection laws.
The report attributed the operation and seizure details to Mumbai Customs. The department said its action was aimed at preventing smuggling and protecting government revenue, public health, biodiversity and national security. The cases will proceed under the applicable legal provisions, with the seized items and arrested individuals subject to further investigation and legal action.
