DHAKA, June 30, 2022 (Brittanto24) – Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) overnight seized 22,99,500 Saudi Riyal worth Tk 6 crore from a passenger who was about to get onboard a UAE-bound Emirates flight.

Customs officials said they seized a bag during the screening process of departing passengers’ luggage and found the amount while its owner visibly fled the scene to evade arrest.

“The luggage was seized and searched by the customs detectives as it showed to have contained a huge amount of currency during the scanning process last night,” a customs official familiar with the incident told BSS.

Customs House’s preventive team deputy commissioner Mohammad Abdus Sadek said the passenger, however, was identified as Mamun Khan, who left the airport without completing the immigration process sensing the trouble he was exposed to.

Sadek said the aviation security officials subsequently found out his identity from luggage tags and Emirates Airlines counter.

Customs intelligence deputy director Ahmedur Reza Chowdhury said they lodged a criminal case against Khan under Customs Act, 1969 and Special Powers Act, 1974.

According to the HSIA officials, the seized Saudi currency was temporarily kept at Customs storehouse as police launched a manhunt for the luggage owner.

In line with the practice the seized amount is likely to be deposited with Bangladesh Bank.