Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has seized six “gold eggs” in two separate operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The total weight of the seized gold is 2.73Kg. Three of the eggs were recovered from a passenger on an Abu Dhabi-bound flight, while the other three were found abandoned in the airport’s boarding bridge area.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) said the gold was seized in two separate operations, with an estimated market value of Tk4.91 crore.
NBR said that, acting on a tip-off, officials removed a passenger from Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-127, bound for Abu Dhabi from Dhaka via Chittagong, on suspicion.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 7:20pm. Based on information provided by the passenger, three gold eggs weighing 1.37kg were subsequently seized.
In another operation, customs intelligence officials seized three more gold eggs left lying in the boarding bridge area of the airport. These too weigh 1.37kg.
During preliminary interrogation, those concerned said the gold eggs had earlier been brought into Bangladesh from Abu Dhabi. However, as they could not get the expected price in the domestic market, attempts were being made to take them back to Abu Dhabi.
The CIID said it is investigating the gold's actual source, the roles of those involved, a possible smuggling syndicate, and international links. Legal action will be taken over the incident.