Staff Reporter:
The seizure of nearly 18.72kg of smuggled gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has once again exposed the airport as a major transit point for international gold smuggling networks.
A joint team of intelligence agencies, Customs Intelligence, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Customs recovered 160 gold bars weighing about 18.72kg from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight that arrived in Dhaka from Dubai via Chattogram on Thursday.
Officials said they recovered the gold after searching the aircraft’s cargo hold on the basis of confidential information with assistance from AVSEC. The smugglers had concealed the bars inside the cargo hold using a sophisticated method.
No one has been arrested in connection with the seizure so far. Officials estimated the market value of the recovered gold at around Tk45 crore.
Security analysts said the latest seizure points to an organised international smuggling network rather than an isolated incident.
On 11 June, the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBN) arrested six people with nearly 600 grams of smuggled gold jewellery. APBN identified them as members of a smuggling syndicate who worked as receivers of illegal consignments.
Earlier, on 28 March, authorities recovered another shipment of about 18kg of smuggled gold from the airport.
According to Dhaka Customs House, authorities have seized around 1,902kg of smuggled gold in more than 100 operations at Shahjalal Airport between 2021 and this year, equivalent to about 47.5 maunds.
Based on the Bangladesh Jewellers Association’s latest price for 22-carat gold, effective Friday, the seized gold carries an estimated market value of approximately Tk3,728 crore.
Officials and analysts say the seizure data show that Shahjalal Airport has become one of Bangladesh’s principal gateways for international gold smuggling, particularly for syndicates operating from Dubai.
They added that Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet have also emerged as important entry points for smuggled gold.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Customs Intelligence, APBN and other law enforcement agencies continue to seize gold consignments in anti-smuggling operations across the country every month.
Officials said smugglers continue to use the route despite repeated crackdowns and major seizures. They, however, noted that tighter surveillance in recent years has enabled authorities to intercept more illegal consignments.
Gold seizures decline, but cases continue
Authorities have seized nearly 1,902kg of smuggled gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport over the past five and a half years, while filing 540 cases since 2021. Despite repeated crackdowns, investigators say organised smuggling syndicates continue to exploit the country’s busiest airport.
According to Dhaka Customs House, authorities seized about 698kg of gold in the 2021-22 fiscal year, followed by 555kg in 2022-23, 417kg in 2023-24 and 169kg in 2024-25. They have recovered another 63.5kg so far this year.
Airport Police Station records show that authorities filed 540 cases over alleged gold smuggling between 2021 and this year. However, investigators listed unidentified suspects in most cases because they failed to arrest the couriers.
Why Shahjalal a preferred route
Investigators say domestic and international smuggling syndicates continue to use Shahjalal Airport as a major entry point for illicit gold shipments.
Most consignments originate in the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, although authorities have also intercepted gold arriving on flights from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
Investigators attribute the airport’s attractiveness to its high passenger volume, frequent Middle East flights and Bangladesh’s role as both a destination market and a transit point for smuggled gold.
Smugglers conceal gold on passengers’ bodies and inside aircraft seats, toilets, waste trolleys and cargo compartments.
Crime analysts say the continued use of the route suggests that, despite frequent seizures, larger consignments may still evade detection.
Cases without named suspects
The latest case involving nearly 18.72kg of gold contains no named accused because investigators failed to identify or arrest the courier.
A similar case emerged on 28 March after authorities recovered around 18kg of 24-carat gold bars worth an estimated Tk46 crore from a toilet inside the cargo compartment of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arriving from Dubai. Investigators also filed that case against unidentified suspects.
Another shipment surfaced on 2 July, just three months later. Investigators noted striking similarities between the two incidents, including the airline involved and the quantity of gold recovered.
They are examining whether any Biman Bangladesh Airlines employees assisted the smuggling operation or whether an organised network operating inside and outside the airport facilitated the consignments.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines spokesperson Bosra Islam told the media that the airline would not accept responsibility for the actions of individuals. She said police are investigating the incidents and anyone found responsible would face legal action.
Smugglers adopt sophisticated concealment methods
Law enforcement agencies say smugglers continue to devise increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection.
Authorities have recovered gold hidden inside aircraft toilets, waste trolleys, batteries, vacuum cleaners, electric motors, wheelchair frames, trolley handles, shoe soles, belt buckles, shirt collars, soap cases, medicine containers, laptop batteries and sound system adapters.
Investigators have also found gold concealed inside the human body or disguised with black or silver coatings to resemble ordinary metal. In some cases, smugglers have worn gold bars as pendants on necklaces.
Officials say criminal networks sometimes recruit passengers, baggage handlers, cleaners, trolley operators and other airport workers to move consignments.
Why Dubai remains the preferred route
Law enforcement officials say syndicates based in the Middle East, particularly Dubai, use Bangladesh both as a destination market and a transit point.
They attribute the route’s popularity to comparatively lower gold prices abroad, strong domestic demand, tax evasion opportunities and well-established international smuggling networks.
Investigators say almost every major seizure in recent years has revealed links to Dubai.
Officials also note that India’s import duty on gold remains significantly higher than Bangladesh’s, encouraging smugglers to route consignments through Bangladesh before moving them across the border.
According to Customs Intelligence, around 70 active syndicates operating from the Middle East and Southeast Asia remain involved in the illegal trade.
Bangladeshi networks operate abroad
Intelligence reports have identified more than a dozen Bangladeshi nationals based in the Middle East and East Asia who allegedly coordinate international gold smuggling operations.
The reports also mention the alleged involvement of some officials and employees of the Civil Aviation Authority and Customs, as well as members of airport security, police and Ansar, in facilitating the smuggling operations.
Identifying kingpins remains the biggest challenge
Officials say Customs, intelligence agencies, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and other law enforcement bodies have strengthened surveillance and expanded enforcement operations.
However, they acknowledge that identifying the masterminds behind the syndicates remains the biggest challenge because authorities often recover the gold without arresting the couriers or organisers.
Officials say stronger intelligence-sharing, advanced screening technology and closer coordination among enforcement agencies are essential to dismantle smuggling syndicates rather than merely intercept individual consignments.
Authorities tighten surveillance
Authorities have stepped up surveillance at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following the latest seizure as law enforcement agencies seek to curb organised smuggling through the country’s busiest airport.
Several intelligence officials stationed at the airport said the arrival and departure security systems meet international standards. They said security teams intensify screening whenever several international flights arrive within a short period.
Officials said security personnel also conduct targeted searches whenever intelligence sources provide specific information. Despite these measures, they described the continued activities of organised smuggling syndicates as a matter of concern.
They added that authorities have further strengthened monitoring after Thursday’s seizure of nearly 18.72kg of smuggled gold from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arriving from Dubai via Chattogram.
Airport Executive Director SM Ragib Samad told the media that surveillance at the airport is now stronger than ever before.
“We are making every possible effort to keep the airport free from smugglers. Our enhanced surveillance has enabled us to detect and seize more smuggled gold consignments,” he said.
Muhammad Kamrul Hasan, additional commissioner of Dhaka Customs House, told Kaler Kantho that authorities regularly seize smuggled gold at the airport and file criminal cases under the relevant laws.
He said closer cooperation with authorities in Dubai and other source countries is essential to disrupt smuggling networks at their points of origin and prevent illegal consignments from reaching Bangladesh.
