Two individuals, identified as Md. Sharif ul Alam (30) and Md. Zubayer (36), were arrested with 1,577 grams of gold ornaments at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The seizure was made by the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBN) on Saturday morning.
According to a press release from the APBN, the arrests took place around 9 AM when the two suspects attempted to flee in a silver-colored private car near the arrival canopy area between Canopy 1 and 2. Upon apprehension, a search of the vehicle revealed 13 coffee-colored small bags hidden in the car’s toolbox, containing 1,577 grams of gold ornaments valued at approximately BDT 19.2 million.
During interrogation, Sharif ul and Zubayer confessed to being involved in a gold smuggling syndicate for a long time, acting as receivers and smuggling gold into Bangladesh through unidentified passengers to evade customs duties. A case has been filed against them under the Special Powers Act of 1974 at the Airport Police Station.
Mohammad Mozammel Haque, Operational Commander and Police Superintendent of the Airport APBN, stated, “Gold smuggling activities have increased recently. As part of our regular operations, we remain highly vigilant to prevent smuggling and other criminal activities at the airport.”
