GST Shocker: ₹4.25 Crore Gold, Silver and Gems Seized from Luxury Buses in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — The Gujarat State GST Department has carried out one of its biggest enforcement actions in recent months, seizing gold, silver and precious stones worth an estimated ₹4.25 crore that were allegedly being transported without valid documents in private luxury buses arriving from Rajasthan.

The dramatic operation, conducted by the State GST Mobile Squad in Ahmedabad’s Narol area, has sent shockwaves through business circles and intensified concerns over large-scale tax evasion through interstate transportation networks.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Mobile Squad officials intercepted and checked private luxury buses entering Gujarat from Rajasthan. During the inspection, officers discovered approximately 120 kilograms of silver, 700 grams of gold and nearly 3 kilograms of precious stones concealed in the luggage decks of the vehicles.

According to officials, the consignment was being transported without the mandatory documents required under GST regulations. Preliminary estimates place the value of the seized goods at around ₹4.25 crore.

“This is one of the most significant seizures made by the Mobile Squad in recent times. The absence of supporting documents raises serious questions regarding possible tax evasion and the source and destination of the goods,” a senior State Tax Department official said.

Investigators suspect that the precious cargo was intended to be transferred into smaller vehicles after reaching Ahmedabad, a method often used to avoid detection during transportation. The goods were reportedly packed in plastic bags, and officials found no valid documentation accompanying the consignment.

The latest seizure comes just days after another major enforcement action in the Geeta Mandir area of Ahmedabad, where State GST officials intercepted 100 kilograms of silver being transported on a bus route towards Rajkot.

Authorities have now launched a detailed investigation to identify the traders involved, verify ownership of the goods and determine the extent of any GST violations. Officials are also examining whether the transportation network is linked to a larger tax evasion syndicate operating across state borders.

“This campaign against tax evasion and illegal transportation of goods will be intensified further. The State Tax Department remains committed to protecting government revenue and ensuring compliance with tax laws,” another official stated.

The crackdown follows a series of high-profile silver seizures across Gujarat. On May 17, Gujarat ATS, acting on intelligence inputs, seized 180 kilograms of silver worth around ₹5 crore at Hirasar International Airport near Rajkot. Combined with the 100-kilogram silver seizure by State GST in Ahmedabad, authorities recovered a staggering 280 kilograms of silver within hours, highlighting the scale of illegal precious metal movement under investigation.