The customs authority at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong city seized about 2.08kg of jewellery yesterday morning from the hand luggage of a Dubai returned passenger.
The seized bars were in custody of Chittagong Customs House officials and the authorities let the passenger Parvin Akhter and her two children go, said airport sources.
Mashiur Rahman Mandal, assistant commissioner (AC) of Chittagong Customs House at Shah Amanat International Airport, told the Dhaka Tribune that Parvin had arrived at the port city from Dubai via a Bangladesh Biman flight (BG-048) which landed at the airport around 7:30am.
“She kept her bag and baggage at the customs checking panel and the customs authorities found the gold ornaments in some small bags in the luggage,” he said, adding that the seized jewellery was worth Tk80 lakh.
The existing law allows a person to carry a highest of 200g of gold from abroad after paying the necessary duty and a passenger can bring a highest of 2kg of gold after providing early notice to the authorities concerned and paying the duty according to the circular of Bangladesh Bank, added the AC.
As Parvin had not provided any prior notice, the jewellery was seized and she can now release her ornaments after paying the necessary taxes and fines according to the Customs Act, added the AC.
The customs sources said about 2,700 gold bars worth more than Tk100 crore were seized from the airport in 2014.
