{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Sparkling Diamond Bangle Exposes Airport Smuggling Racket, Three Arrested in Two Separate Cases at Delhi's IGI Airport",
  "summary": "Customs officials at Delhi's IGI Airport arrested three passengers in two separate smuggling cases uncovered within about two weeks, seizing a diamond studded gold bangle worth over Rs 1 crore and marijuana valued at nearly Rs 5.25 crore.",
  "content": "Customs officials at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport have arrested three passengers in two unrelated smuggling cases uncovered within the span of about two weeks, seizing a diamond studded gold bangle worth more than Rs 1 crore and marijuana valued at nearly Rs 5.25 crore. The back to back seizures, spaced roughly a fortnight apart, show how India's busiest airport continues to be used as a transit point for both high value jewellery and narcotics.\n\nA gold bangle draws a customs officer's attention\nThe first case dates back to August 19. Two passengers of Turkish origin who had flown in from Istanbul were walking through the green channel at the airport when an officer from the Preventive Wing spotted a bangle worn on one of their wrists. The piece stood out immediately, and when the officer asked the duo to produce documents proving its ownership and value, neither passenger could furnish any paperwork. That gap prompted customs staff to detain both travellers for further questioning.\n\nDuring questioning, officials established that the two had carried the bangle into IGI Airport with the intention of smuggling it into the country. The bangle was subsequently seized. According to customs, the piece was crafted from roughly 750 grams of pure gold, weighed 87.5 grams, and was studded with diamonds weighing around 10 grams, amounting to nearly 50 carats. Its total value was assessed at Rs 1,07,86,301. Acting under the Customs Act, officials seized the bangle and placed both passengers under arrest, with the case now set to proceed through the legal process that follows such seizures.\n\nA trolley bag hiding over 15 kg of marijuana\nUnder airport rules, the green channel is meant only for travellers who have nothing to declare, and customs personnel routinely conduct random and profile based checks on that channel to catch anyone attempting to bypass duty payments or bring in banned items. Both cases this month played out exactly along that channel, underlining how frequently it is misused to move high value contraband.\n\nThe second case surfaced on September 4 at Terminal 3, involving a Malaysian passenger who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur and was attempting to cross the green channel. Officers stopped her after profiling raised suspicion, and a search of her trolley bag left them stunned: hidden inside were 30 polythene pouches containing more than 15 kilograms, precisely 15,015.5 grams, of suspected marijuana. The consignment's value in the international market is estimated at close to Rs 5.25 crore.\n\nCustoms seized the narcotics and arrested the woman under various sections of the NDPS Act, whose provisions apply to the possession and attempted trafficking of banned substances of this scale.\n\nInvestigators now chase the syndicate trail\nWith both consignments seized and three arrests made, officials are now working to determine whether the two cases are linked to any local smuggling syndicates operating out of the airport. Such follow up work typically continues for weeks after a seizure of this kind, as agencies cross check travel patterns and known trafficking routes to piece together the network behind each consignment.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis case is directly tied to air travel and customs rules, especially for travellers carrying expensive jewellery or declarable items from abroad.\n\n• Across India: Travellers bringing expensive jewellery, gold or cash from abroad should now expect stricter checks and document requests at every airport. Carrying jewellery without purchase receipts or a declaration can risk seizure and arrest.\n• In Delhi: Green channel monitoring and profile based checks at IGI Airport are likely to become tighter, meaning travellers passing through Delhi may face slightly more scrutiny and extra time at security.\n• Documents matter more now: Keeping purchase receipts, bills and declaration forms handy for jewellery or valuables has become more important to avoid trouble during checks.\n• Impact on drug trafficking: The strict action under the NDPS Act signals that anyone caught trafficking narcotics can face lengthy legal proceedings and punishment.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where did this happen?\nBoth cases were uncovered at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.\n\n2. What was seized in the first case?\nA diamond studded gold bangle was seized from two passengers of Turkish origin, valued at Rs 1,07,86,301.\n\n3. When was the bangle seized?\nThe bangle was seized on August 19 from passengers who had arrived from Istanbul.\n\n4. How much marijuana was found in the second case?\nOn September 4, customs recovered 15,015.5 grams, over 15 kilograms, of suspected marijuana from the trolley bag of a Malaysian passenger who had arrived from Kuala Lumpur.\n\n5. What is the marijuana's estimated value?\nIt is valued at close to Rs 5.25 crore in the international market.\n\n6. Under what laws were the accused arrested?\nThe bangle case falls under the Customs Act, while the drug case led to arrest under sections of the NDPS Act.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/crime/delhi-airport-para-hiron-jari-sone-ki-churi-ne-kholi-smagalinga-ki-paraten-do-alaga-mamalon-men-3-giraphtara-28680",
  "category": "Crime",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-06",
  "tags": [
    "smuggling",
    "Delhi airport",
    "customs",
    "gold bangle",
    "marijuana",
    "NDPS Act",
    "IGI Airport"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}