Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport recently intercepted a passenger attempting to smuggle nearly 870 grams of gold by hiding it in an unexpected place: the tyres of an electric scooter. The traveler, who had arrived on a flight from Jeddah via Mumbai, was flagged for inspection after X-ray screening of their checked luggage revealed suspicious anomalies. Although the individual successfully bypassed initial security screenings, officers remained vigilant and conducted a manual search of the scooter.

Upon dismantling the vehicle, authorities discovered 19 pieces of 24-carat gold, totaling 869.5 grams, expertly tucked inside the solid cores of the tyres. This creative, albeit illicit, attempt to bypass customs duty highlights the ongoing efforts of smugglers to find new ways to bypass airport security. Delhi Customs officials have confirmed that the contraband has been seized and an investigation is currently underway to determine the extent of the smuggling operation.