Two foreign nationals put on seven-day remand over gold smuggling

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed two foreign nationals on a seven-day remand each in a case filed over the alleged smuggling of around 12kg of gold paste seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ripon Hossain passed the order after a hearing, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Saiful Islam of the prosecution division.

The accused, both Chinese nationals, were identified as Chen Liyun and Mo Xiaoyu, said Saiful.

Earlier in the day, Airport Police Station SI Md Mazedul Islam, also the investigating officer in the case, produced the accused before the court and sought a 10-day remand for each.

According to the remand petition, the accused were suspected members of a gold smuggling syndicate, and their interrogation was necessary to identify others involved in the alleged smuggling operation and facilitate the investigation.

The two passengers arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Emirates flight EK586 from Dubai around 6pm on 28 October, read the case statement.

Members of the Customs Shift-A and Preventive teams questioned them as they passed through the green channel without declaring any baggage.

A subsequent search reportedly uncovered soft, yellow paste-like substances concealed inside their jeans and underwear, which had been specially stitched with black fabric.

A preliminary examination indicated that the substances were 24-carat gold, according to the case statement. Approximately 12kg of gold paste was seized from their possession.

Later, a case was filed with Airport Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Special Powers Act, 1974, accusing them of gold smuggling.