The accused, a native of Ghaziabad, was intercepted by customs officers after his arrival from Bangkok yesterday late night.
On thorough personal search of the passenger, who is in his early thirties, 16 gold bars were found concealed inside the insoles of the shoes worn by him.
"The recovered gold bars totally weighed 1,220 grams (about 1.2 kg) and was collectively valued at Rs 28.77 lakh," a customs official said.
The gold bars were seized and the passenger was arrested, he said, adding that further investigation was continuing.