25 tons of prohibited poppy seeds confiscated at Chittagong Port Customs

Chittagong Port Customs has confiscated 24,960 kg of prohibited poppy seeds in two containers arriving at Chittagong Port. The shipment came from Pakistan on October 9 and was subsequently moved to the offshore dock known as Chaber Ahmed Timber Company Limited.

Deputy Commissioner of the Custom House HM Kabir confirmed this information.

He stated that the declared value of the shipment was Tk 30 lakh 2 thousand 482, while the market value of the goods discovered during the physical inspection was Tk 6.5 crore.

Acting on a confidential tip-off, the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch of Customs seized the shipment, which was consigned to Messrs. Adib Trading of Korbaniganj, Chittagong.

If the poppy seeds are capable of germination, they are classified as a class 'A' drug under the Narcotics Control Act 2018. As per Article 3(1)(b) of the Import Policy Order 2021-24, poppy seeds are categorized as item 15 in the list of prohibited items. In the country, poppy seeds are utilized as a spice. The consignment was seized under the Customs Act 2023 for the importation of prohibited poppy seeds with a false declaration.

According to sources from the Custom House, the C&F agent MH Trading of Shantibag, Halishahar, submitted the bill of entry to the Custom House on October 14 for the consignment's clearance. After the clearance was halted, a physical examination took place on October 22 in the presence of depot authorities and the C&F agent. During this examination, 7,200 kg of bird food and 24,960 kg of poppy seeds were discovered, with the bird food positioned at the front of the container. Samples of both products were collected and sent to the Plant Quarantine Department, the Nanotechnology Center of Dhaka University, and the lab at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology. The physical/chemical test report confirmed that one of the two products was indeed poppy seeds.

Deputy Commissioner HM Kabir indicated that appropriate legal measures are being pursued in this case.