Lok Sabha Question No. 173 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Seizure of Smuggled Gold and Narcotics
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 173

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 10, 1947 (SAKA)

## SEIZURE OF SMUGGLED GOLD AND NARCOTICS

173. Dr: Nishikant Dubey:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the customs department has recorded seizure of huge quantities smuggled gold and narcotics at airports and seaports during the last three years;
- the stringent measures taken by the Government to control and curb smuggling of Gold and narcotics; and
- (b) if SO, the details thereof and the quantity and value of smuggled and narcotics at various airports and seaports in the country; gold
- (d) whether the Government has filed cases on these smugglers and if SO, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b): Yes: The details of gold and narcotics   seizure cases at airports and seaports by Customs field formations and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (upto October 2025) are as below:
- (c) The Customs field formations and DRI keep a constant vigil and take operational measures, inter   alia, based on intelligence, passenger  profiling with the aid of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) , risk-based interdiction and targeting, non-intrusive inspection like baggage and container scanning; rummaging of carriers, including aircrafts, and coordination with other agencies for purposes of thwarting and narcotics smuggling: Field formations are regularly sensitized to newer methods of smuggling: On detection of narcotics smuggling cases, action is taken in accordance with law, including seizure and confiscation of smuggled goldl narcotics and arrest and prosecution of the persons accused of smuggling: gold gold/
- (d) The details of cases filed under the   provisions of Customs Act; 1962 in connection with and under the provisions of NDPS Act; 1985 for narcotics smuggling are as below: gold

| FY                                             | No. of Cases                                   | Quantity (in Kgs}                              | Value (in Rs. Crore)                           |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Details of gold seizure cases at Airports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Airports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Airports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Airports      |
| 2022-23                                        |                                                | 2775.88                                        | 1381.55                                        |
| 2023-24                                        | 5962                                           | 3714.38                                        | 2081.39                                        |
| 2024-25                                        | 2772                                           | 1848.29                                        | 1286.27                                        |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                          | 461                                            | 259.63                                         | 254.39                                         |
| Details of gold seizure cases at Seaports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Seaports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Seaports      | Details of gold seizure cases at Seaports      |
| 2022-23                                        | 0                                              |                                                |                                                |
| 2023-24                                        | 2                                              | 1.28                                           | 0.66                                           |
| 2024-25                                        | 0                                              | 0                                              |                                                |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                          |                                                |                                                |                                                |
| Details of narcotics seizure cases at Airports | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Airports | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Airports | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Airports |
| 2022-23                                        | 468                                            | 1047.75                                        | 3457.22                                        |
| 2023-24                                        | 275                                            | 1516.43                                        | 8027.42                                        |
| 2024-25                                        | 515                                            | 2095.67                                        | 2231.84                                        |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                          | 549                                            |                                                |                                                |

| Details of narcotics seizure cases at Seaports                                         | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Seaports                                         | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Seaports                                         | Details of narcotics seizure cases at Seaports                                         |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2022-23                                                                                | 9                                                                                      | 14491.75*                                                                              | 5692.34                                                                                |
| 2023-24                                                                                |                                                                                        | 22.20                                                                                  | 220                                                                                    |
| 2024-25                                                                                | 3                                                                                      | 5266.17                                                                                | 173.10                                                                                 |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                                                                  |                                                                                        |                                                                                        |                                                                                        |
| This figure includes one seizure case of 13864 kgs of licorice roots soaked in heroin: | This figure includes one seizure case of 13864 kgs of licorice roots soaked in heroin: | This figure includes one seizure case of 13864 kgs of licorice roots soaked in heroin: | This figure includes one seizure case of 13864 kgs of licorice roots soaked in heroin: |

| FY                                      | No. of Cases in which prosecution was launched   | of prosecuted cases                     | persons in these                        |
|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Gold Smuggling Cases at Airports        | Gold Smuggling Cases at Airports                 | Gold Smuggling Cases at Airports        | Gold Smuggling Cases at Airports        |
| 2022-23                                 | 481                                              |                                         | 759                                     |
| 2023-24                                 | 174                                              |                                         | 280                                     |
| 2024-25                                 | 253                                              |                                         | 342                                     |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                   | 117                                              |                                         | 186                                     |
| Gold Smuggling Cases at Seaports        | Gold Smuggling Cases at Seaports                 | Gold Smuggling Cases at Seaports        | Gold Smuggling Cases at Seaports        |
|                                         | 0                                                |                                         |                                         |
| 2023-24                                 | 0                                                |                                         |                                         |
| 2024-25                                 | 0                                                |                                         |                                         |
| 2025-26                                 |                                                  |                                         |                                         |
| Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Airports _ | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Airports _          | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Airports _ | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Airports _ |
| 2022-23                                 | 144                                              |                                         | 139                                     |
| 2023-24                                 | 153                                              |                                         | 179                                     |
| 2024-25                                 | 209                                              |                                         | 253                                     |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)                   | 209                                              |                                         | 268                                     |
| Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Seaports_  | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Seaports_           | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Seaports_  | Narcotics Smuggling Cases at Seaports_  |
|                                         | 7                                                |                                         | 18                                      |
| 2023-24                                 | 0                                                |                                         |                                         |
| 2024-25                                 |                                                  |                                         |                                         |
| 2025-26 (upto Oct'25)_                  | 0                                                |                                         |                                         |

*****