Dhaka: A total of 2944.208 kilogrammes of gold were seized in the country in the last three years, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Monday.

Responding to a question from Awami League lawmaker Shameem Osman (Narayanganj-4), the minister said of the total amount of gold seized in 2013 was 620.41kg; in 2014 1539.638kg and in 2015 784kg.

The finance minister said the seized gold and foreign currencies have been deposited to Bangladesh Bank under police protection in presence of officials concerned of the airport, customs house and customs station.

Muhith said all customs authorities including Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department have geared up their surveillance to check gold and currency smuggling. Sudden drives are also being conducted on tips off to stop gold and currency smuggling, he said.

The finance minister said the anti-smuggling programmes are underway by exchanging information with local and international customs authorities and intelligence agencies.  In continuation of these activities, he said, gold and currency smuggling has been declined to a great extent.