Zambian customs officials have arrested a 27-year-old Indian national at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle over ₹21 crore worth of cash and gold while travelling to Dubai. The man was caught with $2.32 million (approx. ₹17 crore) in cash and gold worth $500,000 (approx. ₹4 crore), according to Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). A team of officials from different agencies caught him just before he could get on the plane.

Images shared by local media showed bundles of $100 notes tied with rubber bands, packed in a black bag hidden inside a larger suitcase. The suspected gold consisted of seven pieces. Authorities are investigating further.
Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) said that the investigation is still going on. They also warned that anyone involved in international crimes will be caught eventually.

Zambia, a country rich in natural resources like copper and gold, still struggles with poverty. According to the World Bank, over 60% of its people live below the poverty line. This isn’t the first such case. In 2023, five Egyptians were caught in Zambia with a plane carrying weapons, 127 kg of gold, and $5.7 million in cash. However, they were later released after spying charges against them were dropped.

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