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CIID seizes contraband worth Tk 2.04cr at Dhaka airport
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials have seized contraband goods worth an estimated Tk 2.04 crore, including foreign cigarettes, gold jewellery, banned Gouri cream and foreign liquor, during a special drive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
The operation was carried out on Thursday by the Airport A Shift team of CIID following a tip-off, according to a press release issued on Friday.
During monitoring of baggage collection from Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-148 arriving from Dubai, customs officials found three unattended suspicious bags on Baggage Belt No. 1.
A search of the bags led to the recovery of 370 cartons of Mond brand foreign cigarettes.
At the same time, officials seized another 111 cartons of foreign cigarettes from passengers arriving on other international flights, taking the total seizure to 481 cartons.
The market value of the cigarettes has been estimated at Tk 21.64 lakh. Including applicable customs duties and taxes – a total tax incidence (TTI) of 621 percent, the total value stands at about Tk 1.56 crore.
During the operation, customs officials also searched the hand baggage of passenger Md Tajul Islam, who arrived on the same Dubai flight, and recovered 99 grams of concealed gold jewellery.
Verification of his passport showed that he had already imported 100 grams of gold jewellery without paying duties and taxes after entering the country on June 10 this year.
Under the Baggage Rules, 2025, passengers are not entitled to another duty-free allowance for gold jewellery beyond the prescribed annual limit. As a result, the newly imported 99 grams of gold jewellery was seized.
The recovered gold jewellery has an estimated market value of Tk 18.75 lakh, while its value, including duties and taxes, is around Tk 30 lakh.
Officials also seized 12 kg of banned Gouri cream with an estimated value of Tk 2.40 lakh.
In a separate operation, customs officials confiscated 11 litres of foreign liquor, including whisky of various brands, from passengers arriving from Kolkata.
The liquor has an estimated market value of Tk 2.20 lakh. Including applicable duties and taxes, calculated at a total tax incidence of 610.30 percent, its total value is approximately Tk 15.62 lakh.
According to customs officials, the combined value of all seized goods, including duties and taxes, is estimated at Tk 2,04,07,000.
Legal proceedings are underway under the Customs Act, the Baggage Rules and other relevant laws.
The CIID said such operations will continue to prevent smuggling, customs duty evasion and the import of prohibited goods, reports UNB.