25 tonnes of banned poppy seeds falsely declared as 'bird food' from Pakistan seized at Ctg port
Poppy seeds are listed as a 'Category A narcotic' under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018
Customs officials at Chattogram port have seized a 32-tonne shipment from Pakistan that was falsely declared as bird feed but was found to contain 25 tonnes of banned poppy seeds.
According to a press release issued by the customs authority today (6 November), the seizure was made by the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) wing of Chattogram Customs following a tip-off.
The two containers, imported from Pakistan on 9 October by Messrs Adib Trading of Chattogram's Kotwali area, were declared to contain 32,010 kilograms of bird food. The consignment was handled by C&F agent M.H. Trading Customs C&F Agent Ltd.
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Acting on intelligence, the AIR team suspended the release of the containers before a joint physical examination was conducted on 22 October at Sabeer Ahmed Timber Company Ltd's off-dock depot in the presence of depot officials and the C&F agent.
The inspection revealed that only 7,200 kilograms of the declared bird food were present. Hidden beneath them were 24,960 kilograms of poppy seeds. Samples were collected and sent to the Plant Quarantine Office at Chattogram Port, Dhaka University's Nanotechnology Centre, and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) for physical and chemical testing.
Why poppy seed imports banned in Bangladesh?
Laboratory reports from the Plant Quarantine Office and KUET confirmed the substance as poppy seeds, which are classified as a "Category A narcotic" under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018.
HM Kabir, Deputy Commissioner of Customs, said the importers had attempted to smuggle the banned seeds by layering bird food at the container doors to conceal the contraband.
"Although poppy seeds (known locally as posto dana) are sometimes used as a spice, their import is prohibited under Article 3(1)(b), Serial No. 15 of the Import Policy Order 2021–2024", he added.
"The consignment, valued by the importer at Tk30 lakh, was found to have a market value of around Tk6.5 crore upon inspection. Legal proceedings are underway under the Customs Act, 2023", he also said.
