Ahmedabad: The Customs Department confiscated 4.5 kg of gold at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport in the city, which was being smuggled by six different passengers, the agency announced on Monday. All suspects were apprehended.

According to the agency, some passengers were smuggling the gold hidden inside their bodies in the form of a semi-solid paste, while others also had gold chains concealed beneath their clothing. With gold prices reaching Rs 75,000 per 10 grams, the allure of gold smuggling has grown for illicit traders.

During the previous fiscal year, Ahmedabad customs seized approximately 170 kg of gold at the airport and made over 60 arrests. In FY23, approximately 80 kg of gold was confiscated. Gold has previously been smuggled through various methods, including concealment in mixture grinders, CCTV cameras, electric kettles, and as a paste hidden in undergarments. DeshGujarat