20kg gold looted from Benapole Customs House: Customs officer held

Members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have arrested a customs officer from Munshiganj in connection with looting 20 kg gold from Benapole Customs House.

The arrestee is Arshad Hossain, hailing from Mehendiganj in Barishal district.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of CID arrested Arshad from Munshiganj district on Saturday night, said Inspector Sirajul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case.

Read more: Benapole Customs: Burglars loot 20kg gold from vault

A court sent Arshed to jail when he was produced before the court yesterday, seeking remand, said CID.

According to the case statement, a total of 19.3 kg of gold, worth Tk 10.43 crore, were looted from the Benapole Customs House on November 7, 2019 when Arshed was in charge of the vault of the customs house.

However, police found the vault intact. The close circuit cameras of the customs house were found turned off during the incident.

Later, revenue officer Emdadul Haque filed a case with Benapole Port Police Station.

As the key of the vault was under the custody of one Shahibul, the customs authorities suspended him for negligence of duty in 2019. Police also arrested Shahibul, suspecting his involvement in the incident.

Assistant revenue officer Biswanath Kundu was also arrested in the same year in this connection who made confessional statement before the court.