867 cartons foreign cigarettes, 50 banned creams seized at Chattogram airport
Customs officials at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram seized a large consignment of cigarettes and banned cosmetic products after conducting a raid on the baggage of four passengers arriving from Dubai last night (22 December).
The operation was carried out around 9:30pm in the airport's customs hall following the arrival of US-Bangla Airlines flight BS-344, said Ibrahim Khalil, public relation officer at Amanat International Airport.
The passengers were identified as Md Rezaul Karim, Ridwanul Haque, Md Mizanur Rahman and Md Salahuddin, all Bangladeshi nationals travelling from Dubai.
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Ibrahim Khalil said during baggage inspection, customs officials recovered a total of 867 cartons of Mond brand cigarettes and 50 pieces of import-prohibited Gauri cream, according to a press release issued by the airport authorities.
"Customs officials estimated that the seized cigarettes alone involved potential revenue of Tk30.34 lakh, calculated at Tk3,500 per carton", he added.
The seized cigarettes have been confiscated at departmental memorandum (DM) value and will remain under the custody of Chattogram Customs House, the release said.
Airport customs officials, however, issued verbal warnings to the four passengers and allowed them to leave, it added.
Shah Amanat International Airport authorities said efforts to prevent smuggling and illegal imports would continue as part of routine and intelligence-based operations.
