Gold worth Tk 2.5 billion found hidden in airline employee’s belt at Shahjalal Airport
Collected Photo
Customs officials have recovered 120 gold bars from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. In connection with the incident, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Assistant Technical Helper Md. Shoaib Gazi has been detained.
The operation was conducted at around 11:30 am on Saturday (September 5) based on confidential information. Customs officials and preventive teams from Customs House, Dhaka, along with various intelligence agencies, jointly conducted the operation and recovered the gold.
According to Customs House officials, they received information that gold was being smuggled on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 148 operating on the Dubai Chattogram Dhaka route. Based on the information, customs officials working at the airport and members of the preventive team were present inside the aircraft to conduct a special search.
Members of Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ mechanical and cleaning teams were searched as they came down after cleaning the aircraft. During the search, with the assistance of the aircraft’s security officer Nur Islam, several objects wrapped in black Scotch tape were found cleverly concealed inside the belt worn by Assistant Technical Helper Md. Shoaib Gazi.
The items were later taken to the customs hall and opened in the presence of representatives from various agencies. A total of 120 gold bars wrapped in black Scotch tape were found. Each bar weighed 116 grams, bringing the total weight to 13.92 kilograms. According to Customs, the estimated market value of the recovered gold is Tk 2.5 billion.
Customs officials believe the gold bars were brought into the country through a smuggling attempt to evade government prescribed duties and taxes. There was a possibility that the gold would be smuggled out of the airport premises. However, the efforts of Customs House and various intelligence agencies prevented the gold from being taken outside.
Customs said the seized gold bars were immediately deposited in the customs warehouse because of their high value. In accordance with the standing order on the disposal of uncleared or seized and confiscated goods involved in smuggling allegations, the process of depositing the gold with Bangladesh Bank as precious metal is underway.
