Several intelligence agencies in the country have confirmed that 70 syndicates are engaged in gold smuggling with ten being operated from overseas. Gold is being smuggled using all three routes, sea, air and land.
Detectives have identified 29 foreigners involved with the syndicates. Intelligence agencies say that of the sixty syndicates within the country, 40 are directly involved in gold smuggling while 12 are through money exchange and 8 via travel agencies.
Almost 555 persons, including locals and foreigners, are involved in gold smuggling.
It’s believed that syndicates have links to UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Myanmar.
DMP deputy commissioner (communication) Masudur Rahman, says, “The gold smugglers are organised and their operation is widespread.”
Some top smugglers are in hiding and we are trying to nab them, he added.
Special police SP of the organised crime department, Mollah Nazrul Islam, says, “The main kingpins of the smuggling are outside the country.”
According to Bangladesh Jewellers’ Association, most of the gold smuggled into Bangladesh end up in India. According to them, India stopped the import of gold in 2013 and increased the tax on gold to 10 per cent from 6.
According to the jewellers, every day, gold worth Tk 250 million is sold and bought.
They also claim that gold brought to the country from overseas plus the metal which is auctioned by the Bangladesh Bank meet the demand of ten thousand jewellers in Bangladesh.
However, customs intelligence believe the gold demand of the country cannot be met by auction or through the gold brought by expatriates.
Intelligence agencies have information about several nationals of India, Singapore, Nepal and Pakistan who are involved in gold smuggling. In addition, they have information about 14 Bangladeshis engaged in smuggling.
Several names of civil aviation officials who abet smugglers have also come to the intelligence agencies. Also accused are Bangladesh Biman cabin crew. It’s believed that local politically linked people are also involved in smuggling with the nefarious trail leading to an upazila chairman.
The smuggling is done in four stages, selecting a carrier who is usually a tourist or an expatriate worker. The person is given some money and the ticket. The carrier leaves the aircraft without the gold once it reaches an airport in Bangladesh. In the second stage, with the help of civil aviation and cargo officials, the gold reaches the hangar gate or cargo village. In the third, cargo village people put the shipment in a waiting car which takes the metal outside and, in the fourth, the gold is kept with the designated person. In the fifth stage, the gold is sent to the buyer who then sends it to India.
In the land route, the carrier is usually a tourist or a person going to India for medical treatment. They take the gold up to the border and, in the second stage, an agent of the main smuggler takes the gold and passes through customs and immigration. In the third, after the gold crosses into India, agents take it to the designated spot.
On land, gold is used to pay for illegally smuggled cows, weapons and drugs. Gold also comes from Myanmar.
BGB sources say that from Myanmar, yaba is not the only contraband item entering Bangladesh.
“Gold is another item which comes regularly through clandestine operations.