India • Jun 22, 2025

Gold dust in socks: Mumbai airport staff among 4 held in ₹16 crore smuggling bust

Mumbai Customs just cracked a big smuggling case at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, seizing gold dust and hydroponic weed together worth ₹16 crore.
Four people were arrested—two of them airport staff.
The whole thing kicked off thanks to a tip from the Air Intelligence Unit.

TL;DR

All 4 have been booked under anti-smuggling, drug laws

Officials caught two airport employees trying to sneak out 24-karat gold dust hidden in their socks (worth over ₹4 crore).
Meanwhile, two passengers from Bangkok were stopped with nearly 12kg of hydroponic weed stuffed inside pillowcases in their luggage.
All four have been booked under anti-smuggling and drug laws.
This bust is a reminder that customs teams are staying sharp to keep illegal stuff out of airports.