Dhaka: The Directorate of Audit, Intelligence and Investigation (VAT) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has seized 3,16,400 sticks of illegal foreign cigarettes while conducting raids in two residential buildings in the capital's Mohammadpur area.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the two preventive teams of VAT intelligence conducted simultaneous raids on September 16 based on secret information as part of efforts to protect government revenue and prevent illegal marketing of tobacco products. The raids began around 11:00 am at a building in PC Culture Housing in Shyamoli and another building in Johuri Mohalla in Mohammadpur, where two concealed warehouses were found locked.
Assisted by the buildings' security guards, the teams identified the warehouses but could not locate the owner. With the cooperation of the building owners, they brought in external workers to break open the locks and enter the warehouses, where a large quantity of foreign cigarettes was found packed in sacks.
The seized cigarettes included 2,02,200 sticks of Patron Nano, 10,000 sticks of Mond Strawberry, 16,600 sticks of Mond Silver, 26,400 sticks of Oris Nano, and 61,200 sticks of various other brands like Orbit, Mond, Patron, and Oris. The NBR estimated the market value of the seized cigarettes at around Tk 35 lakh, with potential government revenue losses in the form of value-added tax (VAT), supplementary duty, and surcharge estimated at around Tk 30 lakh.
The intelligence team, after speaking with local residents, discovered that the warehouses were owned by the same person, who had rented them under the pretext of operating a dealership business. The building owners were reportedly unaware of the nature of the products stored there. Locals noted that the warehouses generally remained closed during the day, with goods brought in at night and dispatched to various destinations through courier services.
As the seized cigarettes were illegal, they have been deposited at the nearest customs warehouse. The NBR stated that foreign cigarettes cannot be imported without prior permission and adherence to prescribed regulations. The seized cigarettes will be destroyed following the rules, and legal proceedings, including the filing of a case, are being initiated in connection with the seizure.
The NBR emphasized that VAT intelligence operations would continue across the country in order to protect government revenue, prevent illegal production and marketing of tobacco products, and curb revenue evasion through the use of counterfeit stamps and banderols.