One pretty significant bust has now come out from Mumbai where Directorate of Revenue Intelligence dismantled what looks like full international gold smuggling ring operating right inside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on July 16 . And honestly,the way this whole operation was allegedly structured is what makes it really disturbing.
Six people were arrested in total — three Indian nationals and three from Philippines . Indian nationals identified as Himanshu Upadhyay (25) from Bhandup,Mohid Hasan Siddiqui (32) from Kurla,and Feroz Sayyed (47) also from Kurla . Filipino nationals arrested were Lakim Alimudin Nasser (35),Benny Lloyd Olivo (35),and Christine Joy Andaya Pornasdoro (35).
Total gold seized during operation weighed around 5,251 grams across four bars — worth approximately ₹7.50 crore . Not small amount at all.
But what really stands out here is how gold was being hidden and moved around.
Seized gold was reportedly concealed in wax form,making it genuinely difficult to detect during standard checks . DRI officers observed Upadhyay quietly transferring two black pouches to Siddiqui . When questioned,Upadhyay revealed pouches had gold in wax form which he had received from Sayyed — who apparently managed store inside airport's international departure area itself.
And this is where things get uncomfortable for airport authorities . Because operation was allegedly aided by personnel working at airport . Someone on inside was helping this move .
Three key things standing out from this case:
- Gold was concealed in wax form to avoid detection,making seizure particularly noteworthy.
- Sayyed allegedly collected gold from transit passengers and handed to Upadhyay for delivery outside airport.
- All six accused reportedly acted under direction of one mastermind who was orchestrating entire syndicate .
Investigation further led DRI to identify Nasser as transit passenger who initially handed over pouches . Then Olivo and Pornasdoro were intercepted separately and additional pouches with gold were recovered from them too.
Now legal side of this case is where things get genuinely complicated . Advocate Prabhakar Tripathi,representing accused,has raised serious questions about prosecution's claims . His argument is that Filipino nationals were simply transit passengers who had not even completed immigration procedures . So legally speaking,can they really be charged with smuggling into India if they never formally entered country?
Questions around obligations of transit passengers under Customs Act are now expected to be examined thoroughly in court . And honestly,this is not simple grey area — it could affect how entire case proceeds against foreign nationals .
At same time,larger picture here is that major international airports in India continue to remain pressure points for organised smuggling operations . Someone put serious thought into this method — wax concealment,inside contacts,transit passenger cover… entire system was designed to stay invisible.
Whether mastermind behind all this ever gets identified and caught,that question is still hanging open right now . Six people are arrested,gold is seized,but organised networks like these rarely depend on just six individuals…
