Customs seizes 24 foreign gold biscuits worth ₹4 cr stuck inside IndiGo flight at Ahmedabad airport | Watch the video | Today’s news
Customs officials at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in Ahmedabad on Friday seized gold worth over ₹4.26 crore which was hidden inside the speaker cabinet in the toilet of the plane.
The seizure took place on IndiGo flight 6E-1478, which arrived from Dubai, news agency ANI reported. A post on X said: “During a search conducted on IndiGo Flight No. 6E-1478 arriving from Dubai at SVPI Airport, Ahmedabad on 12/06/2026, customs officials assisted by aeronautical engineers seized two bags wrapped in black plastic tape inside the speaker box located in the forward lavatory of the aircraft.”
It further states: “After a search, 24 gold biscuits of foreign origin of 999.0 (24 carat) fineness with a total weight of 2,799.3 grams were found in the hidden bags. The local market value of this gold was ₹4,26,89,325.”
Here’s what we know
According to an NDTV report, customs officials acted on intelligence inputs and conducted a detailed inspection of the aircraft with the help of aeronautical engineers. Upon inspection, they discovered two bags sealed with black plastic tape hidden in a speaker cabinet located in the front toilet.
A wall-mounted speaker box, usually used for flight announcements, was dismantled and bags hidden behind audio components were discovered.
Officials said the smuggler probably intended to leave the gold bars hidden inside the toilet structure for a domestic passenger or ground crew member to retrieve later. However, the plan failed. Suspicious of heightened security checks, the carrier appears to have abandoned the shipment as no passenger reported to collect the gold.
The seized gold has been classified as unclaimed and impounded under the Customs Act, 1962. Ahmedabad Customs has now launched a detailed investigation into the case.
The seized gold was classified as unclaimed and confiscated under the Customs Act. Ahmedabad Customs has now launched a detailed investigation into the case.
ANI said, “The manner of concealment indicates that the gold was concealed by an unknown person with the intention of smuggling it into India in violation of the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. As no person came forward to claim legal ownership of the seized gold, it was seized as unclaimed under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.”
This is a developing story. Further details were awaited.
