Customs officials at Ahmedabad airport seized five 24-carat gold bars valued at approximately ₹88.97 lakh from a 43-year-old passenger who arrived from Dubai on a flydubai flight, according to a report citing senior customs sources. The passenger, identified as being from Bharuch, was arrested and an investigation has been opened into the alleged smuggling operation.
The passenger was travelling on flydubai flight FZ437, which arrived in Ahmedabad from Dubai. Customs officials reportedly became suspicious after observing his movements and receiving information that he could be carrying gold. During initial questioning, the passenger allegedly failed to provide satisfactory answers, prompting officials to conduct a more detailed examination.
The passenger’s baggage was initially processed through the green channel at the airport. He was subsequently asked to pass through a door-frame metal detector, which reportedly returned a red signal. Customs officials then carried out a physical search.
The search allegedly found five gold biscuits concealed in plastic inside the passenger’s trouser pocket. Customs valued the 24-carat gold at around ₹88.97 lakh and seized it as part of the case. The report did not provide details of the passenger’s identity beyond his age and his association with Bharuch.
The customs investigation is examining how the gold was brought into India, whether other individuals or an organised group were involved, and the purpose for which it was being transported. Further details about the charges and the next legal steps were not provided in the report.
The seizure brings renewed attention to the enforcement challenge at Ahmedabad airport, where passengers arriving from Gulf destinations are subject to customs screening and the green-channel declaration system. The movement of passengers through different layers of screening, including metal detection and physical examination, is central to how airport authorities identify undeclared valuables while managing passenger flows.
The report also referred to a separate incident last month in which two passengers from Surat who had arrived from Dubai were found carrying allegedly smuggled gold. That case had led to allegations against customs officials, although the report did not provide details of the allegations or their outcome. The latest seizure, coming about a month later, has again placed gold smuggling at Ahmedabad airport under public scrutiny.
Customs officials are expected to continue questioning the arrested passenger and tracing the source and intended recipients of the seized gold. The wider network, if any, and the final legal position in the case will become clearer after the department completes its investigation.
