270 cartons of cigarettes, 15 smartphones seized from Dubai-returned passenger at Ctg airport
Law enforcement agencies today seized 270 cartons of cigarettes and 15 mobile phones from the baggage of a Dubai-bound passenger at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
The drive was conducted at the airport's customs hall by a joint team of Airport NSI, Customs Intelligence and the Airport Customs Branch. The items were seized from the luggage of a passenger scheduled to travel on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG148 to Dubai.
The passenger, identified as Mohammad Hossain Zahed Habib, a resident of West Farhadabad area in Fatikchhari upazila of the district, was detained during the operation.
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Authorities recovered 270 cartons of cigarettes and 15 smartphones, including five iPhones and 10 Google Pixel handsets. According to airport sources, revenue amounting to Tk9,90,000 was realised from the seized goods, Tk5,40,000 from cigarettes and Tk4,50,000 from mobile phones.
Shah Amanat International Airport Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Khalil said the goods were assessed at the Departmental Memorandum (DM) rate and have been handed over to Chattogram Customs House.
He added that the passenger was later released after receiving a verbal warning from the airport's NSI and Customs officials. Khalil said joint drives by NSI, Customs and Customs Intelligence would continue to prevent revenue evasion and curb the smuggling of prohibited items.
