Bangladesh Expel N.Korean Diplomat For Gold Smuggling

10 March, Dhaka

Bangladesh expelled a senior North Korean diplomat yesterday after he was caught smuggling 1.4 million US dollars worth of gold.

Government officials said, Bangladeshi customs officers found Son Young Nam, the First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy in Dhaka, trying to smuggle 27 kg of gold into the country on Friday.

They said, the diplomat was released, in accordance with diplomatic protocol, but Bangladesh asked North Korea to withdraw him.

Mohammad Shahidul Haque, secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs said, they told the North Korean ambassador to prosecute him in North Korea and update them about the action to be taken against him.

North Korea is under tight international sanctions that restrict its ability to move money through conventional means. Haque said, the smuggling of gold, mainly from Dubai, has increased in recent months but this is the first instance of a diplomat being involved.