Chennai Customs seizes 1.655 kg gold; two passengers arrested

Chennai Customs arrested two passengers after recovering 1,655 grams of gold from capsules concealed inside their bodies, according to a release issued through PIB Chennai on October 25. Officers intercepted the Indian male passengers after their arrival from Singapore on October 24, 2026.

The authorised assayer certified the recovered metal as 24-carat gold. Customs valued it at ₹2,08,86,828.20, approximately ₹2.09 crore. These are the authorities’ findings in an investigation that remains open.

What Customs reported

Air Intelligence Unit officers selected the passengers through profiling. Each passenger was carrying three capsules containing a yellow-coloured paste. Processing yielded gold ingots weighing 924 grams and 731 grams respectively, the release said.

Customs said it seized the gold under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, and arrested both passengers under Section 104. The announcement reports seizures and arrests, not a court conviction; further investigation is in progress.

Warning to travellers

The department warned that smuggling syndicates may offer sponsored travel or easy money in return for carrying gold or unknown items. It also warned that capsules concealed inside the body can cause fatal injuries if they rupture or obstruct internal organs.

The release did not identify the passengers or announce a completed prosecution. Its immediate public message is to avoid offers to transport gold or unknown items for others.

Source: Chennai Customs release via PIB Chennai, October 25, 2026.