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Customs intelligence officials have seized six gold eggs weighing 2.728 kilogrammes, with an estimated market value of Tk 4.91 crore, in two separate operations at Dhaka airport.
The seizures were made on Sunday (November 1) as the gold was allegedly being taken back to Abu Dhabi after failing to fetch the expected price in the Bangladeshi market.
According to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), three gold eggs were recovered from a passenger aboard Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-127, which was scheduled to fly from Dhaka to Abu Dhabi via Chattogram.
The passenger, identified as Mohammad Minhaj, was taken off the flight on suspicion. Customs officials subsequently recovered three gold eggs weighing 1.364 kilogrammes from him.
In a separate operation, officials recovered another three gold eggs, also weighing 1.364 kilogrammes, after finding them abandoned in the boarding bridge area of the airport.
The total weight of the six seized gold eggs was 2.728 kilogrammes, with an estimated market value of Tk 4.91 crore.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the gold eggs had previously been brought to Bangladesh from Abu Dhabi.
However, as they failed to secure the expected price in the local market, an attempt was allegedly made to take them back to Abu Dhabi.
Customs intelligence officials are investigating the people involved, the original source of the gold and possible links to an international smuggling network.
Legal action is being taken in connection with the seizures, the CIID said.