Woman doctor tries to smuggle 500g gold chain hidden inside sweater; arrested

Customs officials at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport seized a 24-carat gold chain weighing nearly 500 grams and valued at more than Rs 83 lakh from a 31-year-old woman doctor who arrived from Sharjah, officials said.The gold was allegedly concealed inside a high-neck sweater worn by the passenger, who had arrived in Ahmedabad on an Air Arabia flight.The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department detected the suspected smuggling attempt during passenger profiling and checking.GOLD HIDDEN IN HIGH-NECK SWEATERAccording to officials, the AIU team was conducting checks on passengers arriving from Sharjah on Air Arabia flight G9-418 as part of efforts to prevent the smuggling of gold and other prohibited goods. During the operation, officials stopped a female passenger after finding her movements suspicious and subjected her to a detailed examination.The inspection led to the recovery of a heavy gold chain concealed inside her high-neck sweater. Customs officials said the chain weighed 499.540 grams and had a purity of 24 carats. The seized gold was valued at approximately Rs 83 lakh, according to the department.Customs officials confiscated the gold under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.WOMAN ARRESTED, LATER RELEASED ON BAILDuring initial questioning, officials found that the passenger was a 31-year-old resident of Bhavnagar and worked as a doctor.She was arrested under the Customs Act following the recovery of the gold. Officials said she was subsequently released on bail after completion of the required legal procedures.The Customs Department has launched a detailed investigation into the suspected smuggling operation.Investigators are trying to establish where the woman obtained the gold and whom she was allegedly supposed to deliver it to after arriving in Ahmedabad.Officials are also examining whether the passenger was acting independently or was part of a larger network involved in bringing smuggled gold into India through the airport.The recovery comes amid continued efforts by customs authorities to identify new methods used to conceal and transport gold through international airports.The department is examining the circumstances surrounding the passenger's travel from Sharjah, the source of the gold and its intended recipient as part of the ongoing investigation.Further details about the suspected network and any additional arrests are awaited as the probe progresses.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Aug 24, 2026 13:07 IST