Dhaka: Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Tuesday night arrested five suspected members of an international gold smuggling gang along with around 11 kg of gold from Gabtoli area in the city.

The arrestees are-Rejaul, Md Waliur Rahman, Ohidul Islam, and Md Billal Hossain.

Briefing reporters at Rab’s Karwan Bazar media centre in the city on Wednesday afternoon, Commanding Officer of the Rab-2 Lt Col Anwaruzzaman said the five smugglers were arrested from an ‘Eagle Paribahan’ bus at Gabtoli bus terminal around 9:30 pm on Tuesday.

The elite force members also recovered 96 gold bars worth around 4.5 crore from their possessions.

During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees revealed that they usually collect gold bars from Old Dhaka and then go to Jashore concealing those in shoes in a unique way, said the Rab-2 Commanding Officer adding that the gold bars were being taken to smuggle those to India.

The arrestees also revealed that they usually carry gold consignment from Dhaka to Benapole eight times in a month and for this, they are given Tk 7000 each time, he added.

Replying to a question, the CO of the Rab-2 said the elite force has been trying to arrest the main culprit involved in the incident.