Dhaka: Customs intelligence officials recovered 4.204 kg of gold-like paste, estimated to be worth around Tk 7.5 crore, from the tank of a high commode at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday evening. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, Airport (A-Shift), conducted the operation at around 6pm, discovering eight egg-shaped packets wrapped in polythene in a toilet adjacent to Belt No. 1 of the Customs Hall.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the packets were found abandoned inside the commode tank, with no immediate claimant, as per a press release. The recovery operation was conducted in the presence of representatives from various intelligence and relevant agencies working at the airport. The packets were then moved to the inventory table at the Customs Hall for further examination.
Upon opening the packets, officials initially identified 4.204 kg of a substance suspected to be gold paste. The authorities are in the process of separating the gold from the paste using a registered goldsmith to ascertain its actual weight and purity. Preliminary assessments estimate the market value of the recovered gold at around Tk 7.5 crore. However, the exact quantity, purity, and value will be confirmed after the completion of the examination and separation process.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate is actively investigating the incident to identify the individuals involved in abandoning the suspected gold paste at the airport.