In a joint drive, National Security Intelligence (NSI), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID), and security personnel of Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport seized 20 gold bars from a passenger seat of a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight today.

CIID seized the aircraft, as there is a possible involvement of airline officials in this regard, said Minhaj Uddin, additional director general of CIID, Chattogram Office.

"We seized the aircraft as per the law, but its operational activities, including carrying passengers, will continue as scheduled," he said. "We have informed all airline companies that any aircraft found with hidden gold inside will be seized."

The gold carrier, identified as Atia Samia, 35, was handed over to the police, he said.

Md Ibrahim Khalil, spokesperson of the airport, stated that the gold bars, weighing 2.33 kg and worth around Tk 2.60 crore, were recovered from a passenger seat of BG 148, a Biman flight that landed from Dubai around 9:25am.

"Wrapped in black tape, the gold bars were smuggled from Dubai and hidden under seat 9J," he said.

Group Captain Shaikh Abdullah Alamgir, director of the airport, said, "We have no information about the aircraft being seized. After the gold was recovered, the plane departed the airport for Dhaka."