Mumbai’s customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have struck a major blow against smuggling networks. Over the past week from January 21 to 29, 2026, the Mumbai Customs Zone-III team seized contraband worth over ₹35 crore, including high-value drugs, gold, diamonds, and foreign currency.
The operation, driven by spot checks, Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling, and intelligence leads, uncovered multiple smuggling attempts. The biggest haul came from narcotics, with 26.522 kilograms of hydroponic weed—a premium cannabis variant—recovered from four separate cases. All linked to passengers arriving from Bangkok, the smugglers had ingeniously concealed the drugs inside trolley bags. Each of the four travelers was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The street value of this seizure alone stands at approximately ₹26.522 crore.
Gold smuggling saw aggressive enforcement too. On January 27, a daring case involved 1470 grams of 24-carat gold valued at ₹2.1 crore. A Bangladeshi transit passenger had body-packed the gold and handed it over to an airport staffer from Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (HRPL). Both were promptly detained.
In four additional gold cases, customs officers nabbed 2162 grams more of 24-carat gold (₹2.89 crore), hidden in clothing layers as sheets and biscuits by the passengers. Diamonds didn’t escape scrutiny either—a whopping 10,660 carats (2132 grams) worth ₹1.81 crore were found tucked away in check-in baggage.
Foreign currency seizures from three incidents involving four passengers added another ₹1.18 crore to the tally, stashed in hand and check-in luggage. Mumbai Customs Commissioner emphasized heightened vigilance at the airport, India’s key international gateway. ‘We’re using spot profiling, intelligence, and APIS to thwart these networks relentlessly,’ he stated. A zero-tolerance policy ensures strict legal action against offenders.
These successes disrupt international syndicates targeting drugs and precious metals. Customs urges travelers to adhere to regulations and avoid smuggling pitfalls, reinforcing Mumbai’s role as a fortress against illicit trade.