India, May 21 -- The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a "highly organised" gold-smuggling syndicate operating through Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, seizing 3 kg of smuggled foreign-origin gold worth Rs.4.8 crore and arresting a food outlet employee allegedly tasked with ferrying the contraband out of the airport.

According to DRI officials, the syndicate used transit passengers arriving from foreign destinations to smuggle gold into the country through a sophisticated and clandestine network. The carriers allegedly ingested gold dust packed in wax and concealed inside egg-shaped capsules before landing in Mumbai.

The smuggled gold was then allegedly handed over to a member of the cleanin...