Cash in lehenga, cocaine hidden in kid's book, wig: The evolution of Indian smuggling scene

Gone are the days when illegal items were smuggled from one country to another buried in containers, crates, camouflaged among textiles or other goods. With changing times, smugglers have evolved new and difficult-to-detect methods of smuggling drugs and illicit cash.

According to the Smuggling in India 2023-24 report by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the latest additions to the methods of smuggling include hiding items in children's story books, wigs, shampoo bottles, and even lehengas.

Though these innovative concealment methods adopted by the syndicates are posing additional challenges for the enforcement agencies, in several cases, the DRI has been successful in detecting them.

Here are some of the case mentioned in the report worth having a look at.

Foreign currency worth Rs 1.10 cr hidden in henna packets

In August 2023, DRI seized foreign currency valued at Rs 1.10 cr at the Kolkata airport before the same could be smuggled out to Bangkok. Two persons were arrested. The currency was concealed ingeniously in "henna packets" in the baggage of the accused. Thereafter, in a series of operations, the entire syndicate operating from Kolkata was neutralized with the arrest of seven persons, including the mastermind.

Foreign currency concealed in lehengas

In a unique case, DRI seized foreign currency (Saudi Riyals) worth Rs 94 lakh from Courier Terminal at IGI Airport, New Delhi. The currency was cleverly concealed in an export consignment of "ladies lehengas" destined to Dubai.

Gold paste hidden in car starter motors

Gold is often smuggled after melting it, adulterating it with impurities before turning it into a paste. This method helps in bypassing the security checks.

In a case in Mumbai, DRI examined a courier shipment from Dubai on March 02, 2024. The officers recovered 12 gears concealed inside three car starter motors, made of 24-carat gold with a nickel coating, weighing a total of 1,975 grams. The gold was skilfully hidden in the form of gears within the starter motors and was extracted using an electric iron cutter. The total quantity of gold, valued at Rs 1.29 cr, was seized.

Cocaine concealed inside thermocol balls

On June 14, 2023, cocaine concealed inside thermocol balls was intercepted at the Delhi Courier Terminal from a parcel originating from São Paulo.

Cocaine concealed in child's story book, hair wig

On August 16, 2023, a foreign national was intercepted at Bengaluru International Airport with cocaine concealed inside a child's story book.

Black cocaine has also been recovered concealed in moisturizer and shampoo bottles.

On August 20, 2023, DRI intercepted a carrier at Nagpur Airport coming from Nairobi with narcotics concealed inside a cylindrical roller machine. On December 19, 2023, DRI intercepted a foreign national at Mumbai Airport with cocaine concealed in her hair wig.