Chattogram: Customs authorities at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram have seized 630 cartons of cigarettes and five smartphones from the bags of two passengers arriving on a flight from Abu Dhabi. The raid was conducted jointly by the Airport Customs Branch and Customs Intelligence at around 10:45 pm on Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the passengers, identified as Mohammad Arafat from Banshkhali upazila and Mohammad Raihan from Amirabad area of Lohagara upazila, were found with the contraband items while landing at the airport from a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, Airport Public Relations Officer Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil confirmed on Wednesday morning.
"A total of 630 cartons of Mond cigarettes and five smartphones were recovered," he said, adding that the seized cigarettes and phones were worth around Taka 1.35 million, according to Ibrahim Khalil. The airport authorities have confirmed that the seized goods are currently under the custody of the Chattogram Customs House at the Departmental Memorandum (DM) price. However, the two passengers involved in the incident were reportedly released with a verbal warning.
Furthermore, airport officials have increased surveillance to prevent the smuggling of prohibited goods and tax evasion.