Three people have been arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka with 397.7 grams of 22-carat gold jewellery, equivalent to around 36 tola, along with eight mobile phones and three laptops.
The arrests were made by the Airport Armed Police Battalion (13 APBn) during an operation late on Wednesday night.
The suspects have been identified as Rabia Begum, 48, Akash Ahmed, 35, and Mohammad Jalil, 46.
According to the APBn, the three were seen behaving suspiciously on the ground floor of the airport’s multi-storey car park at around 3am. When they noticed the presence of police personnel, they allegedly attempted to leave the area. Members of the armed police subsequently stopped and detained them.
A search of the suspects led to the recovery of 397.7 grams of 22-carat gold jewellery. Police also recovered eight mobile phones and three laptops from their possession.
A case has been filed against the three at Airport Police Station under relevant sections of the Special Powers Act, 1974.
According to the APBn, the suspects told investigators during preliminary questioning that the gold jewellery, mobile phones and laptops had been brought into Bangladesh through passengers arriving from different countries. The items were allegedly brought in with the intention of evading customs revenue and smuggling them into the country.
The police said preliminary inquiries had also indicated that the three suspects may have been associated for a considerable period with a gold-smuggling network operating around the airport. Their alleged involvement, however, remains subject to further investigation and the evidence collected during the legal proceedings.
The seizure has highlighted the continuing focus on preventing the movement of undeclared goods through the country’s main international airport. Gold, electronic devices and other commercially valuable items can be subject to customs and tax requirements when brought into Bangladesh, depending on their nature and quantity. Attempts to evade applicable duties or bring goods into the country unlawfully can lead to criminal proceedings.
The authorities are expected to examine how the recovered gold and electronic goods entered the country, who arranged their transportation and whether other individuals were involved in the alleged network.
Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan, superintendent of police (operations) at Airport Armed Police Battalion 13, said the unit was actively working to prevent criminal activities and smuggling at the airport.
He said the APBn remained committed to carrying out its duties professionally, particularly in preventing the smuggling of drugs and gold. Operations aimed at curbing smuggling would continue, he added.
The three suspects will now face the legal process as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the seizure and the allegations made against them. The preliminary statements obtained during questioning will also need to be assessed alongside other evidence before the extent of their alleged involvement can be established.
