Customs intelligence officials seized 49 gold bangles weighing 1.48kg, with an estimated market value of Tk 2.80 crore, including customs duties and taxes, from a passenger’s handbag at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram on Sunday.
The seizure was made by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) following a tip-off about gold smuggling.
According to the CIID, officials took position at the airport on Sunday morning based on secret information.
A passenger, identified as MD SHARIF, arrived at the airport from Jeddah on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG136 at 11:12am.
He allegedly attempted to pass through the green channel without declaring any gold ornaments.
When customs intelligence officials questioned him, he denied carrying gold.
However, acting on the tip-off, the officials decided to search his baggage. During a search of his handbag in the customs hall in the presence of officials from other agencies, they recovered 49 gold bangles weighing a total of 1kg and 480 grammes.
The estimated market value of the seized gold, including applicable customs duties and taxes, is Tk 2,80,23,800, the CIID said.
The incident highlights the role of intelligence-led surveillance in detecting suspected gold smuggling at the country’s airports.