Officials of the Customs Intelligence & Investigation Directorate have seized 733 grams of gold jewellery and gold bars alongside an iPhone during separate operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
The total estimated value of the seized items, including duties and taxes, stands at Tk1,39,41,167.
The drives were conducted on Monday, according to a press release issued by the directorate.
At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, customs intelligence officers intercepted passenger Fatema Tuz Zohra, who arrived on a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Officers carried out a search of her baggage after finding it suspicious whilst she was crossing the Green Channel, recovering 299 grams of gold jewellery and an iPhone 18 Pro Max, valued at an estimated Tk61,29,167.
Meanwhile, at Shah Amanat International Airport, officers seized 434 grams of gold valued at Tk78,12,000, including applicable duties and taxes, from two passengers arriving on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dubai.
According to the Directorate, passenger Tanbeer Hasan Rifat was questioned around 7:30am on Sunday while crossing the Green Channel.
A search in the customs hall room led to the recovery of 100 grams of gold jewellery hidden inside his shoes, along with a 117-gram gold bar found during a body search.
Another passenger on the same flight, Md Habibur Rahman, was also searched, resulting in the seizure of a 117-gram gold bar and 100 grams of gold jewellery from his luggage.
The directorate further noted that over the past week, a total of 902 grams of gold — comprising 702 grams of gold bars and 200 grams of gold jewellery — has been seized from various passengers at Shah Amanat International Airport.
CIID said that intelligence surveillance and anti-smuggling operations will continue at airports to prevent smuggling, safeguard government revenue, and identify individuals involved in illegal trade.
