26 Kenyans Arrested in India for Smuggling 29kg Gold Worth Ksh525 Million

26 Kenyans Arrested in India for Smuggling 29kg Gold Worth Ksh525 Million

Authorities in Mumbai have arrested 26 Kenyan nationals at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport over allegations of attempting to smuggle approximately 29.4 kilograms of gold into the country.

Officials said the seized consignment is valued at about Ksh525 million (approximately 377 million Indian Rupees), marking one of the largest gold interception cases involving foreign nationals at the airport in recent months.

According to India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the arrests followed a carefully coordinated operation based on specific intelligence and digital profiling of suspected couriers believed to be part of a cross-border smuggling network.

Reports indicate that the majority of those detained are elderly women, raising concerns among investigators about the recruitment tactics used by the alleged syndicate. Authorities suspect the individuals were acting as couriers, each carrying an estimated 1.03 kilograms of gold.

One of the suspects was reportedly travelling using a fake passport, further intensifying the scope of the investigation.

The operation unfolded on Wednesday, April 8, when officers were deployed at Terminal 2 of the airport ahead of the group’s arrival at around 11am. Due to heavy passenger traffic at the time, officials opted for surveillance rather than immediate interception, allowing the suspects to proceed through initial screening points.

Investigators then moved in after the group crossed the designated “green channel,” an area reserved for passengers with nothing to declare.

“Some of them began discarding objects wrapped in black tape near luggage belts. We recovered multiple pouches containing melted gold bars. None claimed ownership,” an official involved in the operation stated.

Authorities later recovered several concealed packages containing melted gold bars and jewellery pieces from various points within the airport. Despite the recovery, none of the suspects initially admitted ownership of the contraband.

However, further searches led to additional discoveries.

“Two individuals were found with gold bars hidden in their shoes during detailed checks,” another official confirmed.

Investigators believe the group is linked to a wider, well-organised smuggling syndicate operating across multiple countries, including Kenya and Sudan. The network is suspected of recruiting couriers and deploying various concealment methods to evade detection.

These tactics reportedly include hiding gold in clothing, footwear, and luggage compartments, as well as creating distractions at airports to reduce scrutiny during security checks.

The suspects have since been placed in judicial custody as investigations continue to identify key coordinators and financiers behind the alleged operation.

Authorities say the probe will extend beyond the individuals arrested, with a focus on dismantling the broader network responsible for orchestrating such smuggling activities.

Under India’s Customs Act, individuals found guilty of smuggling face severe penalties, including confiscation of goods, substantial fines, and imprisonment of up to seven years, particularly for foreign nationals involved in organised operations.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by international law enforcement agencies in combating transnational smuggling networks, which continue to adapt their methods in response to heightened airport security measures.

As investigations progress, officials are expected to collaborate with international counterparts to trace the origin of the gold and uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s operations.

ALSO READ: Governor Lusaka Sacks All His Cabinet, County Attorney & Secretary Amid Impeachment

26 Kenyans Arrested in India for Smuggling 29kg Gold Worth Ksh525 Million