Dhaka Customs House, in a joint operation with intelligence agencies, has seized 80 unclaimed gold bars weighing more than nine kilograms from a Flydubai aircraft at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka on Wednesday night.
According to a press release, the seized gold is estimated to be worth around Tk20 crore.
Customs sources said officials received a tip-off around 9:35pm about a gold smuggling attempt involving Flydubai flight FZ523, which arrived from Dubai around 9:20pm.
Customs officials immediately boarded the aircraft and searched it after all passengers had disembarked. The joint team recovered several packages wrapped in black adhesive tape and hidden under a seat in the presence of representatives from different intelligence agencies around 9:40pm.
The packages were later opened at the airport customs hall, where officials found 80 gold bars weighing a total of 9,331 grams, with each bar weighing 116.64 grams.
Customs officials said the gold had been concealed to evade government-imposed duties and taxes and was intended to be taken outside the airport. The prompt action by Dhaka Customs House and intelligence agencies foiled the smuggling attempt.
The gold bars were deposited in the airport customs’ secure vault, while the process of depositing them with Bangladesh Bank is underway in accordance with standing orders on seized smuggled goods.
A case has been filed with the Airport Police Station in connection with the seizure.
Dhaka Customs House said it would continue regular surveillance and intelligence-driven operations to prevent smuggling and protect the national economy.
