Rising global gold prices and smugglers getting smarter by the day have fuelled a rise in illicit trade of this shimmering metal across India. With prices gradually nearing the Rs 1 lakh mark per 10 grams—an all-time high influenced by various international factors—the stakes in the underground gold economy have never been higher. According to reports, central enforcement agencies have significantly intensified their crackdown on smuggling operations.
A recent report claims that central agencies seized gold worth Rs 54.29 crore in the financial year 2024–25, averaging over Rs 1 crore in seizures every week. This comes in the wake of a larger, more alarming statistic: more than 700 tonnes of gold are believed to be smuggled into India annually, while the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and other agencies manage to seize only about three tonnes of it each year.
The Ahmedabad Zonal Unit (AZU) has been one of the chief architects of these well-coordinated inter-agency efforts. The association has recovered 35.39 kg of gold valued at Rs 26.97 crore, besides assisting other enforcement agencies in additional seizures totalling 38.83 kg worth Rs 27.32 crore,
However, the audacity of smuggling attempts continue to increase, although the overall value of seizures experienced a slight decline compared to the previous financial year, A particularly inventive method was revealed when two passengers were apprehended for smuggling 3 kg of gold worth Rs 2.76 crore, cleverly disguised as gold paste and hidden within plastic strips sewn into their jeans.
Meanwhile, officials believe that the gold smuggling trends closely mirror global price movements. With gold trading at historic highs, syndicates have become bolder and more sophisticated in their operations. One of the most striking busts of the year occurred in March, when 95kg of gold was discovered in a Paldi residence linked to a Mumbai-based stockbroker and his father. The case, involving gold bars marked with foreign origins, is now under investigation by Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), following a tip-off involving multiple enforcement agencies.
Investigations have revealed that a number of smuggling rings operate via international flights, particularly from Gulf countries. Syndicates often recruit unsuspecting couriers—individuals with clean records—by offering them fixed sums to carry the contraband. The playbook is always changing, noted a senior official, adding that these networks constantly refine their tactics to outsmart security forces.
As enforcement agencies continue to adapt, India’s battle against gold smuggling remains a high-stakes game of cat and mouse—one driven by economic opportunity, global volatility, and a precious metal that never loses its lustre.
