Three people, boarding on a brand-new Premio sedan, were trying to smuggle gold worth around Tk 6.60 crore into India today through the bordering area of Benapole in Jashore, according to officials of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Around 30 kilometres off their destination, the BGB members of intercepted them in Natunhat area on Jashore-Benapole Highway this morning, Lt Colonel Selim Reza, commanding officer of 49 BGB Battalion, said at a press briefing this afternoon at Jhumjhumpur Headquarter in Jashore.

Searching the car and the bodies the trio, BGB recovered 98 gold bars weighing 11 kilogrammes from their possession and arrested them, our correspondent reports quoting the BGB official.

The arrestees are Jahidul Islam, 38, son of Abdul Jabbar of Durgapur, Md Yakub Ali, 28, son of Anarul Islam of Amla village in Sharsa of Jashore, and Dilwar Hossain 23, son of Moonir Hossain of Daudkandi in Cumilla. 

The arrestees were trying to smuggle the gold bars to India through Putkhali border in Jashore, the CO said, adding that they were later handed over to police and a case has been filed in this connection.

The owner of the car, one Md Iman of Putkhali village, is the kingpin of this gold smuggling syndicate, the BGB official said, adding that his name has been included in the case.