Customs officials recovered around 6kg of gold paste from each passenger after finding the substances concealed in specially sewn compartments in their jeans and underwear.
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 28 October. 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 28 October. Photo: Courtesy
A Dhaka court today (5 November) sent two Chinese nationals to jail after they completed a seven-day remand in a case over the alleged smuggling of 12kg of gold paste hidden in their clothing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam passed the order after police produced the two accused before the court following the end of their remand, said Prosecution Division Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam.
The accused are Chen Liyun and Mo Xiaoyu.
Airport Police Station Sub-Inspector Majedul Islam, the investigation officer in the case, sought to keep them in jail until the investigation is completed.
The court granted the petition and ordered their detention in jail.
Earlier, on 29 October, a Dhaka court had placed the two Chinese nationals on seven days’ remand in the case.
According to the case statement, the two passengers arrived at the airport from Dubai on Emirates flight EK586 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.
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.
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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