Published : 28 Sep 2026, 11:32 AM
Updated : 28 Sep 2026, 11:32 AM
Customs officials have uncovered 8.25 tonnes of tobacco and powders suspected of containing narcotics in a shipment at Chattogram port that had reportedly been imported using another company's name.
The owner of Athoi Enterprise, named as the importer in the documents, has told the authorities in writing that he knew nothing about the shipment and that neither he nor his company was involved, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
He suspects an "unscrupulous group" used the company's name and import-related information to bring in the goods, the NBR said on Monday.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) discovered the shipment during a physical inspection.
Customs documents show the goods arrived from Kolkata aboard the "MV Uddipan Express", which left on Sept 20 and reached Chattogram two days later.
They were brought in under two bills of lading.
Tobacco and Suspicious Powders
One consignment was declared as "Pan Masala and Zarda (chewing tobacco products)", with documents listing 473 packages weighing a total of 8,974kg.
But an inspection on Sept 27 found 470 packages containing 8,250kg, or 8.25 tonnes, of tobacco and tobacco-like products.
Officials also found powders of various colours among the goods.
The NBR said the substances appeared suspicious and resembled narcotics, but stressed that their contents could not be established without chemical and laboratory testing.
Tests will determine whether the powders contain narcotics or any other prohibited or controlled substances, it said.
Scrap Paper Instead of Catalogues
A second consignment was declared as "printed paper catalogues".
Documents showed 1,570 packages weighing 9,859.60kg.
Inspectors instead found 1,570 packages containing what appeared to be scrap paper, weighing 9,263kg, or around 9.26 tonnes.
The NBR said the "serious discrepancy" between the declared goods and those found during inspection was under investigation.
The owner of Athoi Enterprise has asked the authorities to identify those responsible for allegedly using his company's information and take legal action against them.
