Customs intelligence seizes 531g gold from Muscat returnee at Shah Amanat Airport
The seized gold includes a 425g 24-carat bar recovered from gold paste hidden in the passenger’s baggage and 106g of ornaments found in his trouser pocket.
Customs intelligence officials seized 531 grams of gold from a passenger returning from Muscat at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram today (18 September).
The seized gold is valued at Tk1,00,41,555, including applicable customs duties and taxes, according to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
The passenger, Mohammad Hasan Murad, arrived at the airport on a SalamAir flight from Muscat.
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Acting on a tip-off, customs officials conducted a search of his baggage and body at the customs hall. They found a suspicious substance concealed inside his luggage and wrapped in scotch tape.
The substance, suspected to be gold paste, was recovered using a concealed method, officials said.
The paste was later processed by a goldsmith, yielding a 425-gram gold bar of 24-carat purity.
During a subsequent body search, officials found 35 gold ornaments of different types weighing 106 grams inside the passenger's trouser pocket.
The gold bar and ornaments together weighed 531 grams.
Case being filed
Customs intelligence officials are taking steps to file a case against Hasan Murad with Patenga Police Station over a smuggling attempt.
The CIID will also investigate whether other individuals or an organised group were involved in bringing the gold into the country.
Officials said the investigation will also seek to determine the source and intended destination of the gold and identify others allegedly involved.
