Bangladesh becoming gold smuggling hub for Mideast gold: officials

DHAKA: Bangladesh has seen a huge leap in gold smuggling to neighboring India, the customs intelligence chief said Wednesday.

Mainul Hossain Khan said his team was catching gold smugglers red-handed every day at the country’s two international airports, with bullion brought in mainly from the Middle East and believed destined for India.

They had seized 623 kilograms (1,370 pounds) of gold since July 2013, up from just 15 kilograms over the whole of the previous five years, he said.