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Bangladesh

Customs investigates 9.34kg gold seizure at Dhaka’s international airport

Customs intelligence officials say they recovered 80 gold bars, weighing about 9.34kg, from two airline workers at Dhaka airport. Authorities estimated the value at Tk16.25 crore and are investigating the alleged smuggling route and intended recipients. The reports describe a seizure and investigation, not a conviction.

AI-generated conceptual illustration of gold bullion with an airport backdrop.
AI-generated conceptual illustration. These are not photographs of the seized gold bars or the reported customs operation.

Customs intelligence officials recovered 80 gold bars weighing approximately 9.34kg at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 4 October, according to the National Board of Revenue.

The bars were found concealed in the shoes of two airline workers during an operation connected with an Emirates flight arriving from Dubai. Authorities estimated their market value at Tk16.25 crore.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate said it acted on information received in advance. It is investigating how the gold was moved, who else may have been involved and the intended recipients.

The account establishes what the authorities say they seized and the investigation they have opened. It does not amount to a conviction of the workers or anyone else, and the wider alleged network has not been established in the reports reviewed.

Each bar was described as weighing roughly 117 grammes. The total weight and value are official estimates and should not be interpreted as an independent valuation by Bengal Brief.

The case draws attention to customs controls at the country’s main international airport. Further conclusions about responsibility or the scale of any operation will depend on the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.