Archive · 6 Sep 2026
484 Silver Coins Seized at Delhi Airport, 134 Archaeologically Significant
Customs officers stopped two passengers at Delhi’s IGI Airport after they arrived from Doha.
The officers found many gold and silver coins in their luggage.
The coins reportedly weighed 20.883 kilograms in total and were allegedly not declared.
There were 484 silver coins and one gold coin.
Experts from the Archaeological Survey of India said 134 silver coins might be important archaeological objects.
Customs seized the items under India’s Customs Act.
In a separate case, officers found a valuable diamond-studded gold bracelet from two Turkish passengers.
That bracelet was seized after they arrived from Istanbul on August 19.
Air Customs officers intercepted two passengers arriving from Doha at Delhi’s IGI Airport on September 2, 2026.
A baggage examination recovered 20.883 kilograms of gold and silver coins allegedly brought without declaration.
The seizure included 484 silver coins and one gold coin, collectively valued at ₹47.16 lakh.
The Archaeological Survey of India reported that 134 silver coins had apparent archaeological significance.
In a separate August 19 incident, customs seized a diamond-studded gold bracelet worth ₹1,07,86,301 from two Turkish nationals arriving from Istanbul.
- Who
- Air Customs officers, two passengers arriving from Doha, and, in a separate incident, two Turkish nationals arriving from Istanbul.
- What
- Customs seized 484 silver coins, one gold coin, and other gold and silver items; separately, it seized a diamond-studded gold bracelet.
- When
- The coin seizure occurred on September 2, 2026; the bracelet seizure occurred on August 19.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, including Terminal 3 for the separate bracelet case.
- Why
- The passengers allegedly attempted to clear the items without declaring them to customs.
- Coin seizure
- 484 silver coins and one gold coin
- Total coin seizure weight
- 20.883 kilograms of gold and silver coins
- Coin seizure value
- ₹47.16 lakh
- Archaeological coins
- 134 silver coins were reported by the Archaeological Survey of India to have apparent archaeological significance
- Legal action
- The goods were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962
- Separate bracelet seizure
- One diamond-studded gold bracelet, 750 purity and 87.5 grams, including approximately 50 carats or 10 grams of diamonds
- Bracelet value
- Provisional value of ₹1,07,86,301