AN attempt to smuggle 43kg gold worth Tk 38 crore was foiled reportedly by a team of Rapid Action Battalion on Thursday morning and they arrested five persons in connection with the smuggling. All the five are just carriers. The RAB personnel arrested them following an earlier tip off they got during the investigation of a case filed following the recovery of 11kgs gold from the city’s Gabtoli area.
As reported in the media, one Jahidul Islam, the person who was called from India, was a carrier for a gold smuggling gang. He was not acquainted with the caller, but was a trusted member of the gang, so much so that he was just handed the 258 gold bars. The gold was received from an unknown person in Old Dhaka, after which it would be carried to Benapole, from where it would be smuggled into India. The smuggling gangs use such a strategy so that the masterminds could not be traced even if the carriers were arrested.
Allegedly, the five arrestees were on their way to Benapole by a bus. The elite force, however, did not name who handed over the gold to them for the sake of investigation. Mentionable that those arrested so far in different raids are mostly carriers, not the masterminds, who are yet to be nabbed. Local and international gold smugglers are using Bangladesh as a safe route due to its geographical location and weakness in anti-smuggling vigilance. Gold are smuggled in the country from different countries through airports and land ports, as the gold traders are mostly dependent on smuggled gold. They are unwilling to import the item legally because of high duty and procedural complexities.
Unfortunately, gold smuggling has become almost rampant in the country. It becomes a most lucrative business because firm action is not being taken against those involved, particularly against people who are behind the whole racket. Our law enforcers and customs authorities would be doing a great service to the nation if they arrest not only the carriers but also the masterminds and punish them.
As reported in the media, one Jahidul Islam, the person who was called from India, was a carrier for a gold smuggling gang. He was not acquainted with the caller, but was a trusted member of the gang, so much so that he was just handed the 258 gold bars. The gold was received from an unknown person in Old Dhaka, after which it would be carried to Benapole, from where it would be smuggled into India. The smuggling gangs use such a strategy so that the masterminds could not be traced even if the carriers were arrested.
Allegedly, the five arrestees were on their way to Benapole by a bus. The elite force, however, did not name who handed over the gold to them for the sake of investigation. Mentionable that those arrested so far in different raids are mostly carriers, not the masterminds, who are yet to be nabbed. Local and international gold smugglers are using Bangladesh as a safe route due to its geographical location and weakness in anti-smuggling vigilance. Gold are smuggled in the country from different countries through airports and land ports, as the gold traders are mostly dependent on smuggled gold. They are unwilling to import the item legally because of high duty and procedural complexities.
Unfortunately, gold smuggling has become almost rampant in the country. It becomes a most lucrative business because firm action is not being taken against those involved, particularly against people who are behind the whole racket. Our law enforcers and customs authorities would be doing a great service to the nation if they arrest not only the carriers but also the masterminds and punish them.
