Gold bars seized at Bangladesh's airport, flight attendants arrested

DHAKA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Customs officials at Bangladesh's main airport in Dhaka seized 36 gold bars weighing about 4.2 kg, from two cabin crew members of a Saudi AIRLINES flight, an official said on Monday.

Othello Chowdhury, a senior customs official, told reporters that Sayma Akhter and Farjana Afrose -- both Bangladeshi crew members of Saudi AIRLINES -- were detained following the seize of the gold bars.

According to the customs official, they arrived at Hazrat Shajalal International Airport at about 2:00 a.m. local time Monday by the Saudi AIRLINES flight from Jeddah.

Acting on a tip-off, she said the cabin crew members were searched when they were passing the green channel at the airport.

Female officials found 36 gold bars worth about 21 million taka (about 250,000 U.S. dollars) hidden inside the under garments of the fight attendants, she added.

According to the official, they will be handed over to the police.

Sources said organized gangs have been increasingly using Bangladesh as a transit for the illegal transportation of gold, foreign currencies, contraband drug and medicines.