CIID showing success in seizing gold, foreign money

MA Rahman Masum: Bangladesh Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has been showing success in seizing smuggled gold and foreign currency from the country’s international airports in last years.

It seized nearly two and a half tonnes of gold worth thousands of crores of taka in last five years.

CIID seized more than Tk 53 crore of foreign currency in last four and a half years, which is more than double from previous nine years. At least 36 people were arrested in the incidents. The seized currency consists of US Dollars, Euro, Saudi Real, Malaysian Ringgit, Indian currency, Yen, Dirham, etc.

According to information received from the Customs Intelligence, from June in 2013 to June in 2017 it seized foreign currency worth Tk 48 crore, 42 lakh and four thousand. A total of 29 people were arrested for the incidents.

In addition to, more than five crore taka of foreign currency was seized from June in 2017 to June in 2018. During the time, seven passengers were arrested. Among them, in April of 2014, 7 crore and 89 lakh taka of Indian currency was seized and in the same year 9 crore and 48 lakh taka of UAE Dirham, Saudi Riyal and Bangladeshi currency was seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

It also revealed that in 9 fiscal years from 2004 to 2013, the customs detectives seized foreign currency worth 22 crore and two lakh of taka. From 2013, there has been a rise in seizing foreign currency. In just four and a half years, the seized foreign currency was more than double from last 9 years. This means that the success and efficiency of the customs detectives have increased.

risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 26, 2018/MA Rahman/Mukul