By Sitaram Mewati
Officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, cracked multiple smuggling cases during May 1–2, 2026, seizing contraband items including gold, electronics, cosmetics, and cigarettes collectively valued at over ₹1.8 crore.
Acting on spot checks and advanced passenger profiling (APIS), Customs officials intercepted passengers arriving from Dubai on different flights, leading to significant recoveries.
In two separate cases involving passengers arriving on an Emirates flight (EK-502), authorities seized electronic goods, cosmetic items, and cigarettes worth ₹84.37 lakh. In a particularly unusual modus operandi, officials discovered eight brown tape-wrapped packets concealed inside the commodes of both rear lavatories of the aircraft during a detailed search operation.
In another case, Customs officers recovered 695 grams of 24-karat crude gold valued at ₹95.32 lakh from a passenger arriving from Dubai on a SpiceJet flight (OSG-5114). The passenger was subsequently arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
Customs officials stated that vigilant surveillance and intelligence-led profiling were key to detecting these cases, reiterating their commitment to curbing smuggling activities at international entry points.
Further investigations are underway.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
