Indian Authorities Arrest 26 Kenyans With Multi-Million Shilling Gold
At least 26 Kenyan women were arrested in India after being found in possession of gold worth over Sh225 million, officials said.
According to Indian authorities, the gold—weighing 29 kilograms—was seized at Mumbai Airport on April 8.
A kilogramme of gold can fetch up to Sh8 million, depending on the market.
The group remained in custody ahead of mitigation for their release on bail. This is the latest arrest involving Kenyans over claims of gold smuggling into India.
The arrests highlight Kenya’s growing role as a regional transit hub for illicit gold flows to markets such as India and the United Arab Emirates.
Most of the smuggled gold is believed to originate from conflict-prone countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, entering Kenya through porous borders.
Authorities have raised concerns over the rise in illegal gold trade networks, which exploit weak border controls and regional instability.
Indian media reported that the suspects—mostly elderly women—were detained for allegedly smuggling 29.4 kilograms of gold from Nairobi, marking one of the largest seizures in recent times.
The case comes amid a sharp decline in gold smuggling linked to disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.
Acting on specific intelligence and digital profiling, local officials waited for the group on April 8.
Given heavy passenger traffic, officers chose to monitor the suspects near the Kenya Airways arrival area and planned to intercept them after they crossed the green channel.
The passengers approached the green channel but, upon noticing officials, moved away and gathered near the baggage belts.
Upon questioning, 25 passengers identified themselves, while the 26th had been detained by immigration authorities for attempting to use a fake passport.
All 25 denied carrying contraband. However, a search of two passengers led to the recovery of gold bars concealed in their shoes, prompting a broader search.
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With the help of a translator, they were presented in court, which remanded them in judicial custody.
Kenya has also seen an increase in fake gold scams, where fraudsters forge documents such as mining licences and customs paperwork to deceive buyers, leading to significant financial losses.
The latest arrests underscore growing scrutiny of cross-border mineral trade as governments step up efforts to curb smuggling and protect investors.
In April 2024, nine Kenyan women were arrested at Mumbai Airport for attempting to smuggle gold worth Sh156.4 million.
According to reports, at least 640 kilograms of gold worth Sh6 billion has been seized at the airport.
Indian Authorities Arrest 26 Kenyans With Multi-Million Shilling Gold
