DRI's 'Operation Golden Sweep' busts gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai airport; 10.488 kg seized, 13 arrested
Under 'Operation Golden Sweep', reported on 11 October 2025, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 10.488 kg of 24-carat foreign-origin gold worth about ₹12.58 crore at Mumbai's CSMI Airport and arrested 13 people.
Summary
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) reported on 11 October 2025 that, in an intelligence-led operation code-named 'Operation Golden Sweep' at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport, Mumbai, it dismantled an international gold smuggling syndicate and seized 10.488 kg of 24-carat foreign-origin gold worth about ₹12.58 crore. Thirteen people were arrested: two Bangladeshi and six Sri Lankan nationals, two airport staff of a meet-and-greet service, two handlers and the Mumbai-based mastermind. Transit passengers flying from Dubai to Singapore, Bangkok and Dhaka via Mumbai hid gold in egg-shaped wax capsules inside their bodies and handed it to complicit airport staff in the international departure area, who took it out of the airport. The syndicate was run by masterminds in Mumbai and Dubai.
Key facts
- Operation
- Operation Golden Sweep (DRI)
- Place
- CSMI Airport, Mumbai
- Seizure
- 10.488 kg of 24-carat gold, ~₹12.58 crore
- Arrests
- 13 — incl. 6 Sri Lankan, 2 Bangladeshi nationals, 2 airport staff
- Method
- Transit passengers (Dubai → Singapore/Bangkok/Dhaka via Mumbai); egg-shaped wax capsules
Practice MCQs 2 questions
What was the code name of the DRI operation that busted a gold smuggling syndicate at Mumbai's CSMI Airport in October 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Operation Golden Sweep
PIB: the DRI operation code-named 'Operation Golden Sweep' seized 10.488 kg of gold worth about ₹12.58 crore and arrested 13 people.
Consider the following statements about 'Operation Golden Sweep': 1. Those arrested included six Bangladeshi nationals. 2. Transit passengers hid gold in egg-shaped wax capsules inside their bodies and handed it to airport staff in the international departure area. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB: the 13 arrested included two Bangladeshi and six Sri Lankan nationals (not six Bangladeshis); transit passengers concealed gold in egg-shaped wax capsules inside their bodies and passed it to complicit staff in the international departure area.