Members of the Airport Armed Police Battalion detained a man with nearly 500 grams of gold ornaments and several electronic devices at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday morning.

The detainee was identified as Rusel Ahmed, 30.

According to police, Rusel tried to flee along the road outside Arrival Canopy-1 of the airport around 9:45 am after sensing the presence of law enforcers. Members of the Airport APBN chased and detained him.

He was later taken to the APBN office where a search of his shoulder bag led to the recovery of 498.3 grams of gold ornaments, six mobile phones and three laptops.

The estimated market value of the recovered gold ornaments and electronic devices is about Tk 1,06,41,910. The gold ornaments are believed to be between 21 and 22 carats.

During initial interrogation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that the gold ornaments and other items were illegally brought into Bangladesh by evading customs through unidentified passengers arriving from different countries.

Police suspect that Rusel had long been involved with a gold smuggling syndicate operating at the airport and worked as a receiver of smuggled goods.

A case has been filed against him with the Airport Police Station on Saturday.

Operational Commander of Airport (13) Armed Police Battalion, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque, said the APBN remains vigilant in preventing smuggling and other crimes at the airport.

“Airport APBN always plays an active role in preventing smuggling and suppressing other crimes in the airport area. Our efforts to stop gold, drug and other illegal smuggling activities through the airport will continue,” he said.