35 gold bars worth Tk 7cr snatched by men posing as ‘DB police’ in Ctg

Four unidentified men posing as Detective Branch (DB) of police snatched 35 gold bars worth Tk 7 crore from three craftsmen in Chattogram's Aturar Depot area early Sunday morning.

The incident occurred around 5:30am when the victims, travelling in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, were intercepted by four men on motorcycles.

On Monday, Sabuj Debnath, one of the victims, filed a case with Panchlaish Police Station accusing four unidentified persons.

Confirming the incident, Panchlaish Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Karim told The Daily Star, "We have received a complaint that gold bars were snatched blocking an auto-rickshaw at the Aturar Depot area by four people who arrived on motorcycles. We are verifying the details. Several police teams are working on the investigation."

When asked how such a large quantity of gold came into their possession and whether they had valid documents, the OC said, "The victims identified themselves as craftsmen working at a jewellery store. They said the gold belonged to a businessman from Hazarigali and was being transported to Dhaka. We are considering all aspects during the investigation."

According to the case statement, complainant Sabuj Debnath said he had been working as a gold craftsman for the last 20 years at one 'Jayram Traders' located at Mia Shopping Market in Hazarigali. Along with two co-workers, Bibhash Roy and Pintu Dhar, they were transporting the gold bars hidden inside their sneakers. Sabuj and Pintu were each carrying 11 gold bars, while Bibash was carrying 13 gold bars.

The three took an auto-rickshaw from Fulkoli area and headed towards Bhatiari in Sitakunda.

When the three-wheeler reached Madhuban near Aturar Depot, four men on two motorcycles intercepted them, introduced themselves as DB police, and threatened them with pistols and knives.

The assailants snatched their mobile phones and 350 bhori of gold worth Tk 7 crore, and fled the scene, said the case statement.

An investigation by The Daily Star found that Jayram Traders belongs to Krishna Karmakar, a gold trader in Hazarigali. It has been confirmed that the 35 gold bars also belonged to him.

Police said Krishna's name had previously surfaced in connection with gold smuggling.

Earlier, on June 16, 2023, police seized 9.5 kg of gold from a bus at a police checkpost in Karnaphuli upazila and detained four people, including two women.

Police said the gold consignment had come from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar and was being transported to Chattogram city. During the investigation of that case, Krishna's name surfaced. Accused Tipu and Narayan gave confessional statements in court, naming then Chattogram Metropolitan Bullion Association president Bidhan Dhar and Krishna Karmakar.

Although multiple names emerged during investigations by local police and DB, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) later submitted a final report stating that the gold had not been smuggled. As a result, the court ordered the gold to be returned in 2024.

Police officials said gold smuggling routes typically involve consignments entering Cox's Bazar via Myanmar, handed over to carriers, transported through Chattogram, sent to Dhaka's Tanti Bazar, and eventually smuggled into India. Traders in Hazarigali and Riazuddin Bazar are often intermediaries in this network.