Shahjalal airport customs recover 27 kg gold from N Korean diplomat

Bangladesh Customs officials have seized about 27kg gold from a North Korean diplomat.

The gold, in the form of 170 bars and ornaments, were found on First Secretary Son Yung Nam at the Shahjalal International Airport.

Customs Joint Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Zia Uddin told bdnews24.com the gold had an estimated market value of about Tk 135 million.

The diplomat was released after signing a bail bond on Friday afternoon as per the Vienna Convention, which provides certain privileges to a diplomatic mission.

Son came to Dhaka on a Singapore Airlines flight around 10:30pm on Thursday. 

Customs officials wanted to scan the bag but Son protested after identifying himself as a diplomat. 

The bag was not declared as a diplomatic package.

APBn’s Superintendent Tanjina Akter said Son used harsh words against on-duty officials.

Armed police personnel stopped him at the green channel and found gold stacked in the bag while screening it.

“There was nothing but gold in the bag,” she said.

North Korean embassy officials along with their ambassador turned up at the airport on Thursday night for talks with Customs officials.

He was released but the gold had been confiscated.

“We can’t take steps against foreign diplomats as per the Vienna Convention. He’s been handed over [to North Korea officials]. They’ll take actions,” Joint Commissioner Zia Uddin said.