₹11.5cr gold smuggling busted at Chennai airport

India Dec 11, 2025

Chennai Customs just stopped a big gold smuggling attempt—catching 9.46kg of gold (worth ₹11.5 crore!) hidden on an Emirates crew member flying in from Dubai.
The gold was packed into paste and strapped with Velcro bands around his chest and waist, showing just how creative smugglers can get—and how alert customs officers are.

More arrests and what happens next

After the main bust, four more people were picked up at a nearby hotel—three who were supposed to receive the gold and one passenger.
All five are now facing legal action under the Customs Act.
This whole operation highlights how determined customs teams are to crack down on smuggling at busy airports like Chennai.