223 cartons of cigarettes, 44 vapes seized at Shahjalal Airport

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate has seized 223 cartons of foreign cigarettes, 44 vapes and 144 mobile displays from passengers on three international routes at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The estimated market value of the recovered goods is around Tk 17.45 lakh.

The information was provided in a press release from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Monday, September 14.

The release stated that based on secret information, special surveillance was started on passengers of various international flights from September 13. That day, when Abdul Karim, a passenger of Emirates Airlines flight EK-584 from Dubai, was crossing the green channel, his movement seemed suspicious, and his baggage was searched. At that time, 223 cartons of foreign cigarettes were seized from his baggage.

On the other hand, 144 mobile displays were seized from two passengers of US-Bangla Airlines flight BS-326 from Guangzhou. Of these, customs intelligence officials recovered 98 displays from KM Tofayel Ahmed and 46 from Shamima Akter.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate said the cigarettes, vapes and mobile displays were recovered from passengers on three separate international flights from Dubai, Malaysia and Guangzhou.

The directorate further said it is viewing such smuggling on international routes with utmost importance. An investigation has been launched to find out whether any gang is involved, whether passengers are being used as carriers, and who else is connected to the incident.