Zambian authorities intercept 27-year-old at Lusaka airport with suitcase full of dollars and gold bars
An Indian man’s journey from India to Dubai took an unexpected turn when Zambian officials arrested him at Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport with a staggering Rs 19.32 crore in cash and over Rs 4 crore in gold concealed in his luggage, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The man was detained moments before takeoff with $2.32 million in cash and seven pieces of gold valued at $500,000.
According to Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the 27-year-old had packed crisp $100 bills — amounting to $2.32 million — secured with rubber bands and hidden deep within his suitcase. Alongside the cash were seven gold items, estimated to be worth half a million dollars, or approximately Rs 4.15 crore.
The dramatic discovery made headlines across Zambian media, with visuals resembling a scene from a crime thriller — tightly wrapped cash bricks and gold stashed like everyday travel items.
Zambian officials have launched a full-scale investigation and issued warnings to criminal networks operating across borders.
The DEC stated, “The long arm of the law will catch up with those engaged in trans-national organised crimes.” The case adds to Zambia’s growing list of high-profile airport interceptions — including a 2023 incident involving five Egyptians carrying 127kg of gold and $5.7 million in cash.
For now, the Indian national remains in Zambian custody, awaiting the outcome of the investigation, far from Dubai’s skyline — with no boarding gate in sight.
