26 Kenyans Arrested in India for Smuggling 29kg Gold Worth Ksh525 Million

Authorities in India have arrested 26 Kenyans at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport over allegations linked to the attempted smuggling of about 29.4 kilograms of gold.

Officials said the seized gold was valued at approximately Ksh525 million (377 million Indian Rupees).

Reports indicate that most of those detained were elderly women suspected of being part of a coordinated smuggling network operating across borders.

One suspect was travelling using a fake passport, and each individual was said to be carrying about 1.03 kilograms of contraband.

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence carried out the arrests following an operation at the airport based on specific intelligence and digital profiling.

Officers were deployed at Terminal 2 of the airport on Wednesday, April 8, where they waited for the arrival of the suspected group at around 11am.

Due to heavy passenger traffic, officials opted to monitor the suspects near the arrival area and allowed them to pass through the initial screening stages.

The officers reportedly planned to intercept the group after they crossed the green channel, which is designated for passengers with nothing to declare.

According to investigators, some individuals were seen discarding packages in an attempt to evade arrest during the operation.

“Some of them began discarding objects wrapped in black tape near luggage belts. We recovered multiple pouches containing melted gold bars. None claimed ownership,” an official said.

Authorities later recovered several pouches containing melted gold bars and pieces of jewellery from the airport area.

Officials further stated that none of the suspects claimed ownership of the recovered items. However, two individuals were later found with gold bars hidden in their shoes during searches.

Investigators allege the group is linked to an organised syndicate that recruits couriers from Kenya and Sudan who use tactics such as concealing gold in clothing, shoes and luggage compartments and creating disturbances at airports to avoid thorough searches and evade detection.

The suspects have since been placed in judicial custody as investigations continue into the wider network and those believed to be coordinating the alleged smuggling operation.

India’s Customs Act stipulates confiscation, fines and strict prosecution for smuggling by foreign nationals, with penalties of up to seven years in prison-Kenyans.co.ke.