The men in the airport’s heavy‑traffic lounge were stopped at the immigration counter, and—under a tip from a private security firm—security officers searched their bags near baggage belt No. 2. Inside Chen Liyun’s jeans and Mo Xiaoyu’s underwear, investigators found 12 kilograms of gold paste, stitched into the fabric and chemically tested as 24‑carat.
Bangladesh’s customs department will file charges under the 2023 Customs Act and other criminal statutes, a move that could see the women tried for smuggling and possession of contraband. The court proceedings are slated to begin in Dhaka’s commercial court by the end of the month.
The incident arrives days before Liu Haixing, head of the Communist Party’s International Department, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. A diplomatic spat over concealed gold could complicate the high‑level talks planned for November 3‑5, and may force the Bangladeshi government to issue a formal explanation to Beijing.
Bangladesh has long balanced ties with India and China while courting investment and infrastructure deals. The country’s recent decision to sit out the BRICS summit has intensified scrutiny of its foreign policy. A smuggling case at the airport threatens to derail its image as a stable partner in the region.
One customs officer who helped conduct the search, who asked to remain anonymous, said the team felt uneasy about the timing, noting that “we’re used to dealing with routine inspections, not a gold‑smuggling raid right before a top‑level delegation arrives.”