A significant consignment of illegal cigarettes, valued at approximately 2.7 million Bangladeshi Taka, has been seized during a coordinated operation at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
According to airport authorities, a total of 1,345 cartons of cigarettes were confiscated in two separate incidents during a late-night enforcement drive conducted on Saturday at around 11 pm in the international arrival zone.
The airport’s Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, confirmed the details on Sunday. He stated that the operation was carried out jointly by the National Security Intelligence (NSI), the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the Customs Intelligence Unit, and the airport’s Customs Department.
In the first incident, enforcement teams recovered 1,065 cartons of cigarettes along with a laptop from the luggage belt area in the arrival hall. The goods were found abandoned and without any identifiable owner at the time of seizure.
In a second incident during the same operation, customs officials searched the baggage of a passenger arriving on a flight from Muscat and recovered an additional 280 cartons of cigarettes. The passenger was identified as Mohammad Shamsuddin, a resident of Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar district. Authorities stated that he was initially released after receiving a verbal warning, pending further inquiry.
All confiscated items have been transferred to the Chattogram Customs warehouse for safe custody and further legal procedures.
Seizure Summary
| Location / Incident | Item Type | Quantity | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival hall luggage belt | Cigarettes | 1,065 cartons | ~ BDT 2.1 million |
| Passenger baggage (Muscat flight) | Cigarettes | 280 cartons | ~ BDT 0.6 million |
| Total | — | 1,345 cartons | ~ BDT 2.7 million |
Officials noted that surveillance at international arrival areas has been significantly strengthened to curb smuggling and the entry of illegal goods. Special emphasis is being placed on preventing customs duty evasion and detecting prohibited or undeclared items through coordinated intelligence-led operations.
Customs sources indicated that there has been a noticeable rise in attempts to smuggle cigarette consignments through international flights in recent months. As a result, enhanced screening measures have been introduced for both passenger baggage and unaccompanied luggage at the airport.
Authorities further stated that continued enforcement actions are expected to reduce the inflow of illegal goods through air routes while also helping to protect government revenue from customs evasion.