Customs officials seized 1,345 cartons of illegal cigarettes, valued at approximately Tk 2.7 million, at Shah Amanat International Airport on Saturday night.
The raid was conducted around 11:00 PM at the international arrivals hall. A joint team—comprising National Security Intelligence (NSI), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Airport Customs, and Customs Intelligence—intercepted two separate consignments.
Airport Public Relations Officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, confirmed the details of the recovery:
First Consignment 280 cartons were found in the luggage of Md. Shamsuddin, a passenger arriving from Muscat on Salam Air flight OV-493.
Second Consignment 1,065 cartons and a laptop were discovered abandoned near baggage belt number 1.
The seized goods have been transferred to the custody of Chattogram Customs House. While the goods were confiscated, the detained passenger was released following a verbal warning from customs officials.
Airport authorities stated they remain on high alert to prevent the smuggling of prohibited items and to protect government revenue.
