Dhaka: Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate officials have seized 223 cartons of foreign cigarettes, 44 vapes, and 144 mobile phone displays from passengers arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Dubai, Malaysia, and Guangzhou.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the total estimated value of the seized goods is Tk 17,45,500, as stated in an NBR press release. Acting on a tip-off on September 13, officials of the Airport Customs Intelligence and Investigation Circle, B-shift, launched special surveillance on suspected passengers arriving on different international flights.
During the operation, customs officials searched the baggage of Abdul Karim, who arrived from Dubai on Emirates Airlines flight EK584. After he crossed the green channel, officials recovered 223 cartons of foreign cigarettes from his baggage. On the same day, officials searched the baggage of Shepon, who arrived from Malaysia on AirAsia flight AK71, and seized 44 vapes.
In a separate operation, customs officials searched the baggage of two passengers arriving from Guangzhou on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS326. They recovered 98 mobile phone displays from KM Tofail Ahmed and another 46 from Shamima Akter, taking the total number of seized mobile phone displays to 144.
Customs intelligence officials said they are taking the incidents seriously as the consignments were brought into the country through three different international routes on the same day. They are also investigating whether an organised smuggling syndicate was behind the incidents, whether the passengers were used as carriers, and whether others were involved in transporting the goods illegally.