143kg of Smuggled Gold Seized in Seven Months

Over the past seven months, authorities have seized at least 143kg of smuggled gold, valued at over Tk196 crore, as smuggling remains rampant through both airports and border areas.

According to records from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, these seizures occurred between August and February, amid growing concerns about the persistent smuggling network.

Notably, on 11 February, Customs Intelligence detained a passenger at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 3.289kg of gold. Later, on 27 February, BGB recovered 2.335kg of gold from an abandoned cowshed in Hudapara, a border area in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga. The combined market value of the seized gold in these two cases exceeds Tk77 crore.

Officials have expressed concerns over the continuing gold smuggling despite political changes in the country since August. They suggest that smuggling operations are being sustained through shifts in patronage, taking advantage of gaps in law enforcement and border surveillance.

It is believed that the actual quantity of smuggled gold far exceeds the seizures, with many recoveries being made based on specific intelligence.

BGB Director (Operations) Lt Col SM Shafiqul Rahman emphasized the challenges in intercepting smuggled gold, stating, “Without precise information, it is difficult to seize smuggled gold.”

He added, “In many cases, when smugglers sense a raid, they abandon the gold and flee, making arrests challenging.”