Rs 5 Crore Gold Smuggling Racket Busted At Bengaluru Airport: Insider Role, Secret Passcodes, Bangladeshi Link Emerge

In a major crackdown on international smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Bengaluru busted a highly organised gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), seizing 3.356 kilograms of smuggled gold worth nearly Rs 5 crore and arresting five persons linked to the racket.

The operation, carried out on April 6 and 7, followed precise intelligence inputs that alerted officials to suspicious activity involving foreign carriers and local facilitators at Terminal 2 of the airport.

DRI officials said the gold was ingeniously concealed in paste form inside capsule-shaped packets and hidden on the bodies of carriers to evade detection.

“Based on actionable intelligence, a coordinated surveillance operation

was carried out at Terminal-2, leading to the interception of an organised smuggling syndicate and seizure of 3.356 kg of high-purity gold valued at approximately Rs 5 crore,” DRI said.

Secret passcodes, washroom handovers used

Investigators revealed that the syndicate used sophisticated and covert methods, including secret passcodes and handovers inside airport premises, to avoid customs scrutiny.

According to DRI sources, carriers arriving from abroad deliberately selected transit routes through Bengaluru with longer layovers, enabling the transfer of contraband within restricted areas of the airport.

“The gold was transferred using pre-arranged passcodes inside sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, allowing the smugglers to bypass routine checks,” officials said.

The gold was concealed in capsule-shaped packets filled with gold paste, a method increasingly used by international smuggling networks to evade detection systems.

Insider role suspected at airport

One of the most alarming revelations in the case is the suspected involvement of an airport insider, who allegedly misused authorised access to restricted zones to facilitate the smuggling operation.

Officials said the insider received the contraband from carriers and helped move it out of secure areas without raising suspicion.

Investigators also found that the syndicate relied heavily on encrypted communication platforms, using coded messages and disappearing chats to coordinate movements and evade law enforcement.

“The use of encrypted communication and coded messaging indicates a deliberate attempt to avoid detection and reflects the high level of sophistication of the network,” officials added.

Bangladeshi nationals linked to international network

Preliminary investigations suggest that the racket is part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate, with suspected involvement of Bangladeshi nationals working alongside local facilitators.

Officials believe the network had infiltrated multiple operational layers within the airport ecosystem to ensure smooth movement of contraband.

So far, five individuals have been arrested, and further investigation is underway to trace the masterminds behind the operation.

“The arrested persons are being questioned to identify the kingpins and dismantle the larger network operating across borders,” DRI officials said.

Rising sophistication of smuggling networks

Authorities said the case highlights the increasing sophistication of gold smuggling operations, with organised syndicates adopting innovative concealment techniques and exploiting transit systems.

Officials added that surveillance and intelligence-driven operations will continue to be strengthened to curb illegal smuggling and protect the country’s economic security.

The DRI said further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation continues into what is believed to be a major international smuggling network operating through Bengaluru.