Members of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Tuesday seized 60 pieces of gold bars worth Tk4.87 crore from a Hi Lift Covered Van of US-Bangla Airlines.
Eight people involved in US-Bangla Airlines catering service were arrested over the gold seizure.
Sources at the airport said the CIID had information of a gold smuggling bid through a Dhaka-bound flight of the private carrier from Dubai on Tuesday morning.
Members of CIID entered the aircraft when the flight BS342 landed at the airport at around 7am to conduct a search operation, said Assistant Director Tanvir Ahmed of the CIID.
CIID officials also searched the catering vehicle [Hi Lift Covered Van] of the airlines and found the gold consignment in the food storage, he said.
They recovered 60 gold bars weighing around 6.96kg. The seized gold has an estimated market value of around Tk 4.87crore, CIID officials said.
Eight persons, who were responsible for the airlines’ catering services were detained and the vehicle was seized.
Process is underway to file departmental case under The Customs Act, 1969, and a separate criminal case in this connection.
