Chattogram: A total of 315 cartons of cigarettes were recovered from the luggage of a passenger on an Air Arabia flight (G9-520) at Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) today. Acting on confidential information, a team comprising NSI members, Customs Intelligence, and the Airport Customs Branch successfully seized the consignment at 9:45 pm on Thursday in the airport’s customs hall.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Airport Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, confirmed that cigarettes with a market value of Tk 6.30 lakh were seized from Md. Rakibul Islam of Raninagar, Naogaon. Islam had arrived at SAIA on an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah, UAE.
The seizure was made based on a Departmental Memorandum (DM) issued by the Chattogram Customs House. Although the cigarettes were confiscated, the passenger was released after receiving a verbal warning from the airport’s Customs Intelligence and Customs Branch. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent smuggling of prohibited items and revenue evasion.