Man held with 1.3kg gold at Dhaka airport

The Armed Police Battalion (APBn) detained a man with 1.3kg of gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday afternoon (22 November).

The detainee, identified as Nurul Alam, 30, attempted to flee when airport APBn members conducted an operation at the lower level of the multistorey car park around 2:20pm. Officers caught him as he tried to run away, according to a press release.

Police searched his body and recovered gold ornaments weighing 1.3kg and 13,970 Saudi riyals.

The gold was hidden inside a cloth pouch, his jubba, and in the right pocket of his trousers, the release added.

During interrogation, Nurul told police that smugglers bring such gold into Bangladesh from various countries through unidentified passengers to evade customs duties. 

Officers said he has long been involved with an airport-based gold smuggling syndicate and works as a receiver.

APBn data show that officers have recovered a total of 28.5 kg of gold so far this year.

A case is being processed with the Airport Police Station, read the release.

When asked about the incident, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque, operational commander of APBn-13, told The Business Standard, "We regularly conduct operations to prevent smuggling and other crimes in the airport area. 

"APBn remains vigilant against gold and drug smuggling. Our activities will continue to prevent any form of smuggling through the airport," he added.