Bidarshan Barua, Nayan Barua and Ruki Barua were scheduled to fly to Muscat at 9.00pm but their tickets were found to be fake during the checking of tickets.

The three, hailing from Abdullahpur of Fatikchhari Upazila, were handed over to Patenga Police Station yesterday afternoon.

The ticket numbers issued by Rubel Travels, located in Sadarghat area, were illegible because of overwriting, which caused suspicion among the airport security men and Biman staffs, said Sub-Inspector Mamun of Patenga Police Station.

The arrestees, however, claimed innocence and said they did not have any idea whether the tickets were forged, he added.

It is the third such incident in two weeks. An Abu Dhabi-bound passenger and another Dubai-bound passenger were found carrying fake tickets on May 24 and May 17.

Sources at the airport alleged that a powerful syndicate, backed by some influential BNP men, has long been engaged in selling fake tickets and cheating innocent people.