Dhaka:Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) seized gold, liquor, dermal fillers, skin-whitening cream, and used laptops valued at Tk 3.23 crore during four separate operations at Dhaka and Chattogram international airports, as well as Dhaka airport's Foreign Post Office on October 15 and 16.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the seized items included a 117-gram gold bar, 30 liters of liquor, 155 dermal fillers and skin booster injections, 1,104 kilograms of prohibited Gouri skin-whitening cream, and 23 used Core i5 laptops. The total estimated market value of these goods is Tk 3,22,87,000.
On October 15, a gold bar weighing 117 grams was seized from passenger Abdullah Al Noman at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. Acting on a tip-off, officials placed him under surveillance upon his arrival from Dubai on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. The passenger initially declared 100 grams of gold jewelry but denied carrying a gold bar, which was later found through a body search. The gold's market value, including duties and taxes, was estimated at Tk 21.06 lakh.
The same day, officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka confiscated 30 liters of liquor. Of this, 16 liters were found in the baggage of a passenger from Mumbai, 7.5 liters were abandoned in an airport toilet, and 6.5 liters were seized from two other passengers. The liquor's market value was estimated at Tk 6 lakh.
On October 16, at Dhaka airport, officials seized 155 dermal fillers and skin booster injections from Md Rakib Hossain's baggage, who arrived from Colombo. The seized goods included various injectable products with an estimated market value of Tk 57.76 lakh. The directorate is examining the legality and proper registration of these products, which require medical supervision for safe use.
In a separate operation at Dhaka airport's Foreign Post Office, officials seized 1,104 kilograms of Gouri skin-whitening cream and 23 used laptops. The combined market value of these goods was estimated at Tk 2.38 crore. The directorate cautioned that unauthorised skin-whitening products might pose health risks, and the import of used electronics could affect consumer safety and market competition.
CIID continues its surveillance and enforcement operations at various customs points across the country to prevent smuggling, revenue evasion, and the import of unauthorised goods, under the guidance of the National Board of Revenue.