Kamlesh Pattni, a British-Kenyan businessman, and his associates face US and UK sanctions for alleged involvement in illicit gold trading, linked to the Goldenberg scandal in Kenya and Zimbabwe’s illegal gold trade. The sanctions aim to combat corruption, human rights abuses, and Russia’s use of gold to fund its war effort.
Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) thwarted a smuggling attempt, seizing a gold bar worth ₹9 lakh cleverly concealed within a cream box. Watch the video and learn more about this audacious smuggling operation.
A 32-year-old man, Sajimon, was held captive and tortured for four months in a Chennai hotel after being tricked into smuggling gold. He managed to escape by leaving an SOS note for his wife, leading to the arrest of five suspects. The smuggled gold remains missing.
A 32-year-old man, who smuggled gold from Dubai concealed in his anus, was kidnapped and held captive by a gang for four months after they discovered the gold was missing. The gang, including a lodge owner, was arrested by Chennai police, and the victim, suffering from burn injuries and bruises, was rescued.
Customs officials at Cochin International Airport seized 466.5 grams of gold concealed within a passenger’s shoes. The passenger arrived from Doha via Dubai and was intercepted at the airport’s exit gate. The gold, worth over ₹ 30 lakhs, was discovered hidden within the soles of his shoes. This incident follows a similar gold smuggling case at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport where 1,390.85 grams of gold were seized from a passenger arriving from Dubai.
Africa is experiencing a significant outflow of both high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and precious commodities like gold, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging as a prime destination. This trend is driven by a complex interplay of socio-economic and political factors in Africa, including instability, tax burdens, and the allure of Dubai’s business opportunities and tax haven status. The departure of millionaires and the smuggling of gold have severe consequences for African economies, undermining stability and perpetuating economic hardship.
In a twist straight out of Bollywood, an air hostess was apprehended for allegedly smuggling gold internally, echoing the plot of Kareena Kapoor’s film ‘Crew.’ The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted Surabhi Khatun at Kannur International Airport on May 28th, seizing 960 grams of concealed gold. The accused, a Kolkata native, concealed the contraband in her rectum. This unprecedented arrest marks the first instance in India of an airline crew member being caught smuggling gold in such a manner. Surabhi is currently remanded for 14 days in a Kannur women’s prison, while an investigation into her previous smuggling activities is underway.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a gold smuggling syndicate in Mumbai, seizing 9.31 kg of gold, 16.66 kg of silver, and Rs 10.48 crore in cash and other valuables. Four persons, including two African nationals, have been arrested. The syndicate was allegedly smuggling gold from Africa through the Mumbai international airport and processing it at a melting facility in Zaveri Bazar to remove foreign markings before diverting it to the local market. The DRI recovered USD 190000 in cash from the recruiter’s office, which was allegedly advance payment for smuggled gold. A buyer fled before DRI sleuths arrived at his office, but 351 grams of cut pieces of foreign-origin gold bars, 1,818 grams of silver, and Rs 1.92 crore in cash were recovered from his premises. The DRI intercepted two African nationals at a nearby hotel who allegedly smuggled and handed over the gold to the recruiter.
Air Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Customs arrested a 49-year-old man, Jayesh Shah, at the Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday while he was allegedly trying to smuggle gold worth Rs 1.45 crore (USD 192,000) from Malaysia to India. The gold bars, weighing around 2.22 kg, were concealed under the clothes he was wearing.
Indian customs officials seized diamonds concealed in noodle packets and gold hidden in passengers’ body parts and luggage at the Mumbai airport, with the total value of the seized goods estimated at ₹6.46 crore. An Indian national was intercepted attempting to smuggle diamonds in noodle packets inside his trolley bag on a flight to Bangkok, while a foreign national traveling from Colombo to Mumbai was found carrying gold bars and a cut piece concealed in her undergarments. Several Indian nationals traveling from various destinations were also intercepted with gold valued at ₹4.04 crore, leading to the arrest of three individuals. Additionally, a fast-food restaurant employee was arrested for allegedly aiding in the smuggling of gold by hiding it in his belt and handing it over to members of a smuggling racket outside the airport.
