Customs intelligence officials have seized gold bars, 35 smartphones and other goods worth Tk 1.12 crore in three separate operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, amid concerns over a growing trend of smuggling goods in small consignments through passenger baggage

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) seized goods worth Tk 1,12,76,834 during the operations conducted by its A-shift team on November 12, 2026.

In the first operation, officials recovered a 171-gram gold bar, cosmetics, food items and medicines from the baggage of passenger Md Abul Hossain, who arrived in Dhaka from Bangkok on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS218.

The seized goods were valued at around Tk 35.70 lakh.

In the second operation, customs officials recovered a 300-gram gold bar, 35 smartphones of Samsung, Honor and Realme brands, 36 kilograms of soap and 6.375 kilograms of cosmetics from the baggage of passenger Shah Alam Aziz.

He arrived from Bangkok on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG389.

After allowing the passenger to bring in 100 grams of gold under the baggage facility, subject to payment of applicable duties and taxes and the required passport endorsement, officials seized the remaining gold and other excess goods.

The seized items were valued at approximately Tk 55.30 lakh.

In a separate operation on the same flight, officials recovered a 200-gram gold bar and 40.48 kilograms of soap from the baggage of passenger Umma Hani.

After allowing 100 grams of gold under the baggage facility, customs officials seized the remaining gold and excess goods, valued at around Tk 21.77 lakh, according to a CIID press release.

The directorate said the increasing use of small consignments to bring gold and smartphones into the country pointed to a growing risk of organised smuggling and customs duty evasion.

Although individual consignments may appear relatively small, their cumulative impact could result in significant revenue losses, it said.

The CIID added that it had strengthened intelligence surveillance and enforcement operations to counter changing smuggling methods and protect government revenue.