Hyderabad airport third in India for gold seizures, confiscates Rs 6.17 crore worth till June
According to official data, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recorded the highest seizures with 44.53 kilograms worth Rs 40.42 crore
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad airport third in India for gold seizures, confiscates Rs 6.17 crore worth till June
Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Shamshabad, ranked third in the country in gold seizures, with officials intercepting 6.33 kilograms of gold worth Rs 6.17 crore from smugglers up to June 2025-26.
Only Mumbai’s CSMIA and Delhi’s IGI Airport reported higher volumes during the same period.
Gold seizures across major airports
According to official data, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recorded the highest seizures with 44.53 kilograms worth Rs 40.42 crore, followed by Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), where 14.82 kilograms valued at Rs 13.45 crore were seized.
In comparison, Hyderabad’s RGIA stood third with 6.33 kilograms worth Rs 6.17 crore confiscated.
Year-wise seizures at RGIA
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has reported the following gold seizures at RGIA in the past five years:
2024–25: 43.90 kg worth Rs 33.11 crore
2023–24: 137.73 kg worth Rs 86.69 crore
2022–23: 136.28 kg worth Rs 69.76 crore
2021–22: 55.85 kg worth Rs 27.45 crore
2020–21: 33.47 kg worth Rs 16.89 crore
The data indicates that smuggling attempts peaked in 2023-24, after which a decline has been recorded.
Anti-smuggling measures
To counter the menace, Customs and DRI officials are relying on multiple surveillance strategies, including the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), risk-based interdiction, baggage scanning, rummaging of aircraft, and coordination with other agencies.
Field officers are being regularly sensitised to evolving methods of smuggling to strengthen preventive measures.
Minister’s reply in Rajya Sabha
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary presented the data in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday in response to a query by MP Dr V Sivadasan.
The minister informed that a total of 76 individuals have been arrested in connection with gold smuggling at airports across the country up to June 2025-26. He further added that one conviction has also been secured during this period.
