Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials have seized a suspicious shipment at Chattogram Port after a physical inspection found a large quantity of tobacco or tobacco-like materials, powdery substances resembling suspected narcotics, and scrap paper inconsistent with the declared goods.
According to CIID sources, the company listed in the documents as the importer or consignee, Athey Enterprise, has denied any involvement in the shipment.
The proprietor of Athey Enterprise reportedly submitted a written statement saying that neither he nor his company had any knowledge of the import and had no direct or indirect connection with the shipment. He expressed concern that an unscrupulous group may have used the company’s name and import-related information to bring in the goods.
He has requested that the actual persons involved be identified and that legal action be taken against them.
According to customs documents, the shipment arrived from Kolkata aboard the MV UDDIPON EXPRESS under Manifest No. 4524/2026 and Voyage No. 011.
The vessel departed on Sept 20 and reached Chattogram Port on Sept 22. The goods were shown as imported under two House B/Ls against the same Master B/L No. 301174347.
Under the first House B/L, ISLCCU2627CGP095, the goods were declared as “PAN MASALA AND ZARDA (CHEWING TOBACCO PRODUCT).” The documents listed 473 packages with a gross weight of 8,974kg.
During a physical inspection on Sunday, Sept 27, officials found 8,250.4kg, or approximately 8.25 metric tonnes, of tobacco or tobacco-like items in 470 packages.
The materials included 7,325.4kg of dark brown items in 421 packages, 527kg of brown materials in 31 packages, 273kg of grey materials in 13 packages and 125kg of white materials in five packages.
Among the seized materials were powdery substances of different colours that appeared externally to resemble narcotics.
However, it cannot be confirmed without chemical and laboratory testing whether the substances contain narcotics or any other prohibited or controlled ingredients. Their actual identity will be determined based on the results of sample testing.
The second House B/L, ISLCCU2627CGP096, declared the goods as “PRINTED PAPER CATALOGUE.” The documents listed 1,570 packages with a gross weight of 9,859.60kg.
A physical inspection, however, found 1,570 packages of suspected scrap paper weighing 9,263kg, or approximately 9.26 metric tonnes.
The significant discrepancy between the declared goods and the nature and classification of the products actually found has therefore come under investigation.
Combining the two B/Ls, the physical inspection found a total of 2,040 packages weighing 17,513.4kg, or approximately 17.51 metric tonnes.
Of the total, around 8.25 metric tonnes consisted of tobacco or tobacco-like materials and suspected drug-like powdery substances, while approximately 9.26 metric tonnes consisted of suspected scrap paper.
