In a remarkable week of enforcement, Mumbai Customs Zone-III at CSMIA has confiscated smuggling goods exceeding ₹35 crore in value. From January 21-29, 2026, intelligence-driven raids and meticulous passenger screening led to the biggest seizures of drugs, gold, diamonds, and cash yet.
Hydroponic weed dominated the narcotics busts. Four flights from Bangkok yielded 26.522 kg of this potent substance, cleverly packed within trolley luggage. Valued at ₹26.522 crore on the black market, the four culprits face charges under NDPS Act 1985 after their arrests.
Gold traffickers faced heat across five incidents. A standout operation on January 27 netted 1470 grams (₹2.1 crore) from a Bangladeshi passenger who swallowed the gold and passed it to an HRPL employee at the airport. The duo’s detention highlights internal collusion risks.
Further, 2162 grams of gold (₹2.89 crore) were extracted from clothing concealments in other cases. A diamond smuggler was caught with 10,660 carats (2132 grams, ₹1.81 crore) in his suitcase. Three foreign currency cases added ₹1.18 crore from hidden cash stashes.
Commissioner of Customs reiterated the department’s multi-layered strategy: real-time APIS data, behavioral profiling, and tip-offs. ‘Mumbai Airport is under constant watch to dismantle global smuggling rings,’ he affirmed. With zero tolerance in play, perpetrators can expect no mercy.
This crackdown sends a strong message to transnational networks preying on India’s busiest hub. Travelers are warned: legal boundaries are non-negotiable, and vigilance remains paramount.