Customs officials arrested a Dubai-bound passenger at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (SIA) in the city yesterday on charge of possessing 1.1 kg of gold and foreign currencies worth around Tk 2.5 crore.
The arrestee was identified as Abdul Gafur, 40, of Mobarakpur village under Balaganj upazila in Sylhet.
“The foreign banknotes included Saudi Riyal and UAE Dirham and Kuwaiti Dinar” Deputy Commissioner of SIA customs Akbar Hossain told The Daily Star.
The DC said they detected the gold while scanning his hand-held luggage around 8:30am. The banknotes were discovered after conducting a thorough search of his remaining luggage, a suitcase which was brought back from the airplane.
Gafur was handed over to Airport Police Station on charge of smuggling and a case has been filed in this connection, said Maruf Ahmed, sub-inspector (SI) of the station and investigation officer of the case.
Gafur’s passport mentioned he was a businessman by profession, said the SI, adding, he was arrested only 20 minutes prior to boarding his flight.
During preliminary interrogation Gafur admitted to the ownership of both hand-held luggage and the suitcase but kept mum about the gold and currencies, he said.
“We suspect involvement of criminals both inside and outside the airport with the smuggling of the confiscated items”, Maruf added.
-With The Daily Star input
