He wrapped the mini gold bars in a piece of black cloth and tied it around his pelvic region like a belt.

He then wore an undergarment, a pair of pants, a T-shirt and a blazer.

Some 43 gold bars, each weighing around 100 grams, were being smuggled in until Customs Intelligence officials caught him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early yesterday.

Anwar Hossain, a resident of Mohammadpur area, identified himself as a luggage trader. He reached the airport in a flight from Singapore.

Moinul Khan, director general of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, said acting on a tip-off, customs officials were following Anwar since he landed around 9:00pm on Monday.

After Anwar crossed the green channel of the airport's customs, the CIID officials searched him, but he denied having any gold with him.

"But it turned out to be false as Customs Intelligence officials got the gold bars in a piece of black cloth inside his undergarment during the four hours of interrogation at the baggage counter," the CIID official added.

The value of the gold bars, weighing around 4.3kg, would be over Tk 2 crore, Moinul said.

During primary interrogation, Anwar claimed that the owner of the gold is one Rezaul, and he was bringing in the gold in exchange for an air ticket and Tk 50,000.

"Rezaul was supposed to contact Anwar as soon as he got out of the airport,” said the customs official, quoting Anwar as saying.

The CIID officials learnt that Anwar visited Singapore twice this January.

Anwar was handed over to Biman Bandar Police Station yesterday morning in a case filed under the Customs Act.