37kg gold found in Emirates flight

The Dhaka Custom House authorities seized 320 pieces of gold bar weighing 37 kilograms concealed under a passenger seats of Emirates flight that arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Thursday evening.
The authorities also took custody of the flight EK586, which reached Dhaka at about 6pm from Dubai of United Arab Emirates.
The Customs’ prevention team assistant commissioner Shahiduzzaman Sarkar told New Age that ‘on specific information, we conducted a drive minutes after the passengers alighted the aircraft.’
The Rapid Action Battalion’s dog squad searched the aircraft and found the places where the gold, in separate
packets, was strapped under seats, the officials said.
‘We found six packets strapped with black tape on row 21, 22 and 26 while two other packets were found in the toilets,’ Shahiduzzaman said, adding, ‘we have collected the passengers list and are examining them…’
RAB’s additional director general Colonel Ziaul Ahsan, who was present during the drive, said ‘it is impossible to conceal such quantity of gold under the seat unless without the involvement of insiders.’
‘Passengers cannot carry water bottles when the fly, then how can such huge amounts of gold get on a plane with being noticed?’ Colonel Ziaul said.
Emirates airport services manager AKM Junaied was not available for comment.
The customs officials said they will hand over the aircraft shortly on an undertaking.
With the latest aircraft, the airport officials said the authorities have taken custody of at least five aircrafts, including one of Biman Bangladesh, since 2014.
On November 6, the Dhaka Customs seized 14 kg of gold and took custody of flight RX783.
The authorities made the biggest ever haul of gold on July 24, 2014 when they seized 124 kg of gold and took custody of flight BG-702 which came from Kathmandu, Nepal.
The government agencies have seized 719 kg gold from Dhaka airport in a year, the parliament was told in June.

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