Photo: Messenger
Gold smuggling has escalated across three international airports in the country, resulting in a significant increase in enforcement measures and surveillance by customs authorities.
Over the course of 24 hours, more than 40 kgs of gold were confiscated at Shah Amanat Airport in Chattogram and Osmani Airport in Sylhet. Additionally, approximately 15 kg of gold was intercepted at Shahjalal Airport within the past week.
Officials from the Customs Intelligence Department have observed a recent surge in the activities of gold smugglers.
Consequently, authorities have augmented surveillance at the country's airports and implemented heightened precautions to counter these illicit operations.
In a recent incident, customs intelligence authorities seized 34 kg of gold from a Bangladeshi flight arriving from Dubai at Osmani Airport in Sylhet, leading to the arrest of four individuals.
Dr. Md. Abdur Rauf, the Acting Director General of Customs Intelligence, addressed the matter in a briefing to journalists.
He said, “Both small and large-scale gold smuggling are occurring through Sylhet, Chattogram, and Shahjalal International Airport, noting a recent resurgence despite a prior decline in such activities.”
Dr. Rauf emphasised proactive measures based on advanced intelligence, which enabled the interception of gold smugglers during a connecting flight.
Notably, he highlighted instances of discovering gold bars on Bangladesh Biman and US Bengal flights, suggesting potential complicity from individuals within the flight crew or in inaccessible areas of the aircraft.
Expressing concern, Dr. Rauf indicated that investigations have commenced to identify and penalise those involved in these smuggling attempts. The findings will be submitted to relevant authorities for appropriate action, including legal repercussions, in accordance with the criminal procedure code.
Furthermore, Dr. Rauf assured the implementation of stringent precautions at the three airports to prevent not only gold smuggling but also the trafficking of other illicit goods into the country.
Collaborative efforts involving multiple intelligence agencies have been activated to effectively address this issue.
Customs intelligence officers reported multiple seizures of smuggled gold during the week, totaling around 60 kg across the three airports.
Authorities noted that smugglers have adopted new tactics such as route changes and utilising connecting flights, prompting a corresponding escalation in surveillance measures to keep pace with these evolving illicit activities.
Customs officials emphasised the challenges of screening every passenger on flights, highlighting the critical importance of acting on tip-offs, which has proven successful in uncovering smuggling activities.
Customs Intelligence Additional Director General Minhaj Uddin informed The Daily Messenger and said, “The intensified surveillance protocols implemented at the airport compared to previous measures.”
Minhaj stressed that during periods of political unrest, there's no room for reducing surveillance. He noted that smugglers might presume safety upon exiting the airport premises but asserted that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant round the clock, deterring any such attempts.
Responding to inquiries, Uddin said, "Smugglers have various strategies employed to evade law enforcement attention. Recent methods have involved concealing smuggled goods within stomachs or flight seats. Prior attempts included using sensitive panel boxes and flight commodes for smuggling purposes.
However, the official underlined that, due to their heightened surveillance, these tactics were successfully foiled, asserting their readiness at the highest level.
Airport Armed Police Additional Superintendent of Police Ziaul Haque Palash told The Daily Messenger, “Smugglers persistently seek opportunities and will exploit any chance they perceive.”
Palash highlighted a recent seizure of approximately 7 kg of contraband with the cooperation of customs, emphasising the importance of collective vigilance among all organisations to combat smuggling activities at the airport.
He reiterated that all agencies should remain on high alert to thwart any attempts at smuggling.
Messenger/Sun Yath
