Air India Crew Member Caught Smuggling 1.7 kg Gold at Chennai Airport

An Air India cabin crew member was caught at Chennai Airport for smuggling 1.7 kg of gold. The incident happened on Sunday when an Air India flight arrived from Dubai. Both the cabin crew member and a passenger were stopped by customs officials after receiving a tip-off.

According to the customs department, the passenger admitted to handing over the gold to the crew member during the flight. The gold, worth over ₹1 crore, was in paste form and hidden on the crew member’s body.

Both individuals have been taken into judicial custody. Customs officials have not yet revealed their identities, and Air India has not issued a statement on the matter.

A customs official explained the method used: “The passenger gives the gold to the crew member on the flight, and the crew member then hands it over to someone outside the airport.”

Officials noted that with recent crackdowns on airport ground staff involved in smuggling, smugglers are now targeting cabin crew members to continue their operations. While the detained crew member claimed this was his first time, investigators believe a deeper investigation is needed to uncover the truth.