Lucknow Police bust Dubai gold smuggling racket after gang’s double-cross

A gold smuggling network that allegedly recruited Indians in the Gulf as couriers has been exposed in Lucknow after two members of the syndicate allegedly betrayed their own handlers and stole a gold consignment worth ₹30 lakh.

Lucknow Police arrested Deepak Verma and Ram Pratap Dubey on Tuesday, while courier Mahboob Alam has been detained for questioning to help investigators trace the wider interstate network.

Police recovered a 203.92-gram capsule containing gold powder, valued at around ₹30 lakh, that had allegedly been stolen from Alam after he arrived from Dubai. According to DCP South Md Mushtaq, the syndicate lured Indians wanting to return home with free air tickets, shopping and cash in exchange for smuggling gold concealed inside body cavities.

The case surfaced after Alam, a resident of Ballia, filed a complaint on August 3, alleging that after landing at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on July 27, he was picked up by the accused, who later stole his trolley bag containing his passport, belongings and the gold capsule.

Investigators formed multiple teams, examined footage from over 100 CCTV cameras and analysed electronic evidence before tracking down the suspects. Police said other members of the network, including an accused identified as Arshdeep, remain on the run.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted they had been tasked only with collecting the gold from the courier but decided to keep it for themselves instead of handing it over to the larger syndicate.

Police believe the racket has links across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest the remaining members. A ₹25,000 reward has been announced for the police team that cracked the case.