Surat: In a significant crackdown on gold smuggling, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) vigilance team deployed at Surat Airport intercepted and seized 28 kilograms of gold paste—equivalent to approximately 23 kg of pure gold—on Saturday night.

The incident occurred around 10 PM on July 20, shortly after Air India Express flight IX-174 arrived from Dubai. While monitoring passenger movement at the arrival terminal, CISF personnel noticed suspicious behavior exhibited by two individuals who had just disembarked the flight.

Acting promptly, the CISF team detained the two passengers for a thorough check. A joint search operation, carried out in coordination with customs officials, revealed a well-planned smuggling attempt: about 28 kg of gold paste cleverly concealed on the bodies of both passengers. Authorities say the smuggled gold was meticulously hidden in a manner designed to evade detection, indicating a high level of sophistication.

“This seizure is a result of the vigilance and coordinated efforts between the CISF and Customs Department. The gold paste has been confiscated, and further investigation is underway,” a customs official confirmed. DeshGujarat