Ahmedabad: In yet another case of gold smuggling at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Customs officials have recovered gold capsules concealed inside the body of a passenger who arrived from Abu Dhabi.

Based on profiling, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers intercepted a male passenger, namely Fakhruddin, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, who was travelling on an Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi on February 19, 2026. During questioning, the passenger admitted to swallowing capsules containing contraband.

Following an order issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the passenger was admitted to Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, for medical examination and recovery of the concealed material. During excretion under medical supervision, three irregularly shaped gold capsules were recovered.

According to the medical report issued on February 24, the seized gold weighed 37.180 grams with a purity of 821.0 (19.71 carats). The certified market value of the gold is ₹5,01,827, while the tariff value stands at ₹4,55,569. The gold has been seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and further investigation is underway for attempting to smuggle the contraband into India without declaration.

This marks the second such incident within a week involving gold concealed inside a passenger’s body at Ahmedabad airport. Four days earlier, Customs officials had recovered gold worth over ₹21 lakh from another passenger, identified as Shahrukh, who had similarly swallowed three capsules after arriving from Abu Dhabi.

Customs authorities have intensified surveillance at the airport amid a spate of innovative gold smuggling attempts. DeshGujarat