There has been an increase in gold smuggling through various airports in the country as law enforcers have identified nearly two dozens of syndicates involved in gold trafficking.
According to Armed Police Battalion (APBN) sources, these identified groups include multiple political leaders, money exchanges and hundi traders. A list has been prepared to identify where these smuggling gangs are active in Bangladesh.
“We have monitored various criminal activities that have been occurring at Shahjalal, Shah Amanat and Osmani International Airports for a long time. Gold smuggling is one of the prime activities in those airports. Foreign agents as well as domestic agents are facilitating the unholy clique. Resorting to new tactics they are passing the gold consignments through the carriers,” they said.
They furthermore elaborated that carriers, plane cleaners, trolley men and even engineers are engaged with this cycle to smuggle gold. There are cases of smuggling of gold in vacuum cleaners, electric motors, various parts of the body, upper handles of trolleys and wallets.
“Evidence of smuggling is sometimes found with gold or silver coating on gold bars. The patient wheelchair seat, anklets on the thighs, in the shoes, inside the belt, inside the collar of the shirt, sandals, soap cases, in the food or medicine boxes and inside the pants the gold is being brought as a pendant hanging with a gold chain on the inside and neck of the money bag,” they said.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport APBN Additional Superintendent of Police (Ops and Media) Alamgir Hossain said that, members of the law enforcement agencies are active in arresting those involved in gold smuggling. Regular raids are being carried out. Those involved in this crime are also being arrested.
He added that, many large consignments used to come earlier. But due to the activities of the law enforcement agencies, the large consignments have stopped coming. Even then, unscrupulous traders are trying to smuggle gold. He said law enforcers are also active to arrest them.
