Man with gold bars in rectum held at Shahjalal International Airport

Customs officials at Shahjalal International Airport have detained a passenger for trying to smuggle in Tk 3.5 million worth of gold bars concealed in his rectum.

Customs Department Joint Commissioner SM Sohel Rahman told bdnews24.com on Friday, “This is the first time anyone tried to pull this bizarre stunt.”

The 38-year old Rafiqul Islam returned from Dubai on Thursday. Officials stopped him while he was crossing the immigration following an instruction from Dhaka Customs House Commissioner Lutfor Rahman. 

Rahman said the passenger of Flydubai airlines at one point of the grilling admitted that he had been carrying six gold bars. 

“Police took him to Uttara Medical College Hospital where X-ray reports confirmed the presence of gold inside rectum.”

The doctors there suggested using glycerine suppositories to bring out the gold bars packed in plastic and black tape. 

The instruction was duly followed.

File Photo

Rahman added Islam, who hails from Barisal’s Agailjhara Upazila, said the bars were anally inserted into his body in Dubai. 

The customs official further stated that they suspected Islam of being a regular mule of the gold smuggling syndicate. 

“We will question him further to find out who else is involved. Process is on to file a case with Airport police in this regard.”