The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan has successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle a significant amount of gold into the country through the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku. During a specialized operation, customs officers seized a total of 347 grams of gold that individuals attempted to bring into Azerbaijan using a distribution method to evade detection.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the incident involved four Azerbaijani citizens arriving on a flight from Sharjah-Doha-Baku. The individuals attempted to exit the customs zone via the "green channel" but were detained for a thorough inspection after displaying suspicious behavior. During the search, officials discovered 300 grams of "PAMP" gold bars and 47 grams of gold bracelets that had not been declared to the customs authorities.
Initial investigations revealed that the seized items were not the personal property of the passengers. Instead, the gold had been handed to them in a foreign country with the specific intent of smuggling the goods past customs control into Azerbaijan. The State Customs Committee issued a formal warning to citizens, noting that transporting items received from unknown individuals across the border can lead to serious legal liability. An investigation into the matter is currently ongoing.
The State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its oversight at international entry points to combat the illegal trafficking of precious metals and stones. Such operations are part of a broader national strategy to ensure economic security and prevent the unregulated flow of high-value commodities. In recent years, Azerbaijan has modernized its customs infrastructure, implementing advanced scanning technology and risk-assessment protocols to detect contraband more effectively at its borders.
