A goldsmith’s preliminary examination indicated that the paste was 24-carat gold, but its purity has yet to be confirmed through chemical testing.
The two passengers sit in front of the seized 12kg of gold paste, with customs officials standing behind them, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy
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The two passengers sit in front of the seized 12kg of gold paste, with customs officials standing behind them, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Wednesday. Photo: Courtesy
A Dhaka court on 29 October placed two Chinese nationals on seven days’ remand in a case over the alleged smuggling of 12kg of gold paste concealed in their clothing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ripon Hossain passed the order, said Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam.
The accused are Chen Liyun and Mo Xiaoyu.
Earlier in the day, Airport Police Station Sub-Inspector Majedul Islam, the investigation officer in the case, produced them before the court and sought 10 days’ remand for each.
The remand petition stated that the accused were suspected members of a gold-smuggling syndicate. Their interrogation was necessary to identify others involved and advance the investigation, it said.
According to the case statement, the two passengers arrived at the airport from Dubai on Emirates flight EK586 at around 6pm on 28 October.
As they passed through the green channel without declaring any baggage, customs officials from the shift-A and preventive teams questioned them, the statement said.
A subsequent search uncovered soft, yellow, paste-like substances concealed in their jeans and underwear, with pieces of black cloth specially sewn into the garments, it added.
The clothes were cut open to recover the substances. A preliminary examination by a goldsmith identified them as 24-carat gold, but the gold’s purity has not been confirmed through chemical testing.
The first information report stated that approximately 6kg of gold paste was recovered from each passenger, bringing the total to around 12kg.
Dhaka Customs House had earlier estimated the seized gold paste to be worth Tk24 crore, according to a press release.
Police also seized two mobile phones, the jeans and underwear worn by the accused, and other evidence, including adhesive tape.
Jamil Sarwar Ahad, assistant revenue officer (preventive) at Dhaka Customs House, filed the case with Airport Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Special Powers Act, 1974, over the alleged gold smuggling.
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