Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has become a major route for gold smuggling, with customs authorities seizing nearly 2,000 kilograms of gold in more than 100 operations between 2021 and 2026. Dhaka Customs House estimated the seized gold’s market value at about Tk5,000 crore. Smugglers have used aircraft cargo holds, toilets, fruit crates and passenger belongings, while individual consignments have reached 15 to 20 kilograms.

Seizures peaked at 697 kilograms in fiscal year 2021-22, followed by 554 kilograms in 2022-23 and 417 kilograms in 2023-24. Airport police registered 541 gold-smuggling cases over five years. Intelligence sources alleged that more than 50 techniques are used and that some aviation, customs, security, police and Ansar personnel have been named as alleged facilitators, while key syndicate operators remain beyond reach.

Three large consignments were recovered this year, including 17.901 kilograms from a Biman flight on March 28, 18.720 kilograms on July 2, and 16 kilograms from fruit crates on a Cathay Pacific cargo flight on July 19. Airport and customs officials said surveillance and operations would continue, while police said they were working to identify the main operators, particularly on the Dubai route.