Illegal goods worth Tk 7.5 million seized at Dhaka, Chattogram airports

Customs intelligence says the seizures follow searches on four incoming international flights

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials have seized a variety of smuggled goods, including foreign cigarettes, banned cosmetics, gold jewellery, and iPhones, at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.

The crackdown targeted shipments brought in through “tax evasion” from multiple international destinations.

On Monday, the directorate issued a media statement confirming that the items, valued at nearly Tk 7.54 million, were recovered over the previous 24 hours based on secret tips.

While the contraband was confiscated during the raids, the agency has not reported any arrests in connection with these incidents.

The CIID said the operation resulted in the recovery of 1,994 cartons of cigarettes, 238 units of import-restricted Gouri skin cream, 204g of gold ornaments, and four iPhones.

These items were discovered during thorough searches of one flight arriving from Abu Dhabi, two from Dubai, and one from Thailand, it added.

The agency noted that the seized items have been handed over to the customs houses for further legal action, which is ongoing.