Customs officials at Shah Amanat International Airport seized a major haul of smuggled foreign cigarettes valued at Tk 6.5 million on Thursday morning.
Acting on a tip-off to prevent massive tax evasion, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate intercepted Mohammad Sohel, a passenger arriving from Dubai on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-148. A thorough search of his three luggage bags revealed 235 cartons of undeclared cigarettes.
The contraband included 150 cartons of the 'Mond' brand and 85 cartons of 'Easy Lights'.
According to a press release from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the estimated market value of the seizure is Tk 6.5 million, which includes the heavily regulated customs duty and taxes. The NBR noted that the total legal tax burden on these specific tobacco products is 621.63 percent making them a frequent target for smugglers.
Authorities have formally transferred the seized goods to the Chattogram Custom House through a detention memo. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the passenger under the Customs Act.
