Sky route of gold smuggling: Dhaka airport emerges as major transit corridor

According to official customs data, nearly 2,000 kilograms of smuggled gold have been seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) over the past five years, prompting experts to describe the airport as one of the country's principal corridors for gold smuggling. 

Although carriers are frequently arrested, investigators say the masterminds behind the organized networks continue to remain beyond the reach of law enforcement.

Insider Collusion Suspected

Aviation expert Kazi Wahidul Alam said such large-scale smuggling operations would be impossible without coordinated assistance from insiders at the airport. 

"Arresting couriers alone will not stop this crime. The entire network must be identified and dismantled," he said, stressing the need for integrated surveillance involving customs, security agencies, cargo handlers and ground-handling personnel.

He also recommended wider use of advanced scanning technology, intelligence based inspections and regular rotation of officials in sensitive positions.

HSIA Executive Director SM Ragib Samad said airport authorities are making every effort to prevent smuggling.

"Our enhanced surveillance is the reason these consignments are being detected. Monitoring will be strengthened further to dismantle smuggling syndicates," he said.

Hundreds of Cases, Billions in Seized Gold

According to Airport Police Station records, 541 cases related to gold smuggling were filed between 2021 and 2026. The yearly breakdown includes 114 cases in 2021, 135 in 2022, 112 in 2023, 84 in 2024, and 92 during 2025-26.

Dhaka Customs data show that more than 100 anti-smuggling operations during the same period led to the seizure of nearly 2,000 kilograms of gold, with an estimated market value of around Tk 50 billion.

During the period, the government also collected approximately Tk 20.38 billion in customs duties and taxes from legally imported gold bars and jewellery.

The highest annual seizure was recorded in FY2021-22, when authorities confiscated about 697 kg of gold, followed by 554 kg in FY2022-23, 417 kg in FY2023-24, 168 kg in FY2024-25 and more than 70 kg in FY2025-26.

Dubai Remains the Main Source

Investigators say Dubai remains the principal origin of most smuggled gold entering Bangladesh. Flights from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait are also frequently used.

Intelligence officials estimate that smugglers now employ more than 50 different concealment techniques.

Gold has been recovered from aircraft vacuum cleaners, electric motors, laptop batteries, trolley handles, wallets, speaker adapters, food containers, medicine bottles and even hidden inside passengers' clothing, shoes, belts, wheelchairs and body cavities. In some cases, smugglers coated gold with black or silver paint to avoid detection.

Officials Named in Intelligence Reports

According to intelligence reports reviewed by investigators, a number of Bangladeshi nationals based in the Middle East and East Asia have allegedly coordinated transnational gold smuggling operations.

The reports also mention alleged involvement of some personnel from civil aviation, customs, airport security, police and Ansar in facilitating the movement of smuggled gold. However, these allegations have not yet resulted in convictions.

New Smuggling Route Exploits Domestic Terminal

Investigators recently uncovered a new method using Dubai-Chattogram-Dhaka flights.

Under the scheme, a courier boards the aircraft in Dubai carrying the gold. During the aircraft's scheduled stopover in Chattogram, another syndicate member boards the same flight as a domestic passenger. The gold is secretly transferred onboard before arrival in Dhaka.

Upon landing, the Dubai passenger exits through the international arrivals terminal, while the Chattogram passenger leaves through the domestic terminal, where routine customs inspections are comparatively limited.

An airport official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the absence of regular customs screening in the domestic arrivals area makes the method particularly difficult to detect without prior intelligence.

Overseas Syndicates

Police sources estimate that the network consists of around 50 major syndicate operators and more than 200 mid-level smugglers operating from Dubai, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Investigators claim that overseas coordinators direct separate regional networks inside Bangladesh, where smuggled gold is sold to local jewellery businesses or transported across land borders into neighbouring countries.

Major Seizures This Year

Authorities have intercepted three major gold consignments at HSIA this year, each revealing new smuggling techniques.

March 28: Customs recovered 153 gold bars weighing 17.901 kg, valued at approximately Tk 460 million, from a concealed compartment inside the lavatory panel of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight arriving from Dubai. Seven airline officials were questioned during the investigation. Investigators reportedly recovered coded communications allegedly linked to smugglers from several mobile phones, although no arrests have yet been made.

On July 2, authorities seized 18.72 kg of gold worth around Tk 450 million from the cargo hold of another Biman flight arriving from Dubai. A case was filed, but no suspects were named. On July 19, customs uncovered 16 kg of gold hidden inside crates containing rambutan, cherries and avocados transported via a Cathay Pacific Cargo flight from Hong Kong.

Investigation Nearing Completion

Officer in-Charge Kamrul Islam of Airport Police Station said the investigation is in its final stages.

"We expect to disclose detailed information about the entire syndicate very soon," he said.

Meanwhile, Boshra Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, said the airline would not shield any individual found involved in criminal activities. 

"The incidents are under police investigation. If any airline employee is found guilty, strict legal and departmental action will be taken," she said.