Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) seized a large consignment of smuggled goods, including foreign cigarettes, gold jewellery, prohibited cream, and liquor, worth approximately Tk2.04 crore on Thursday.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials of the airport’s “A” shift conducted the special drive based on a tip-off. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) shared the details of the seizure in a press release on Friday.
According to the sources, officials monitored the baggage clearance of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-148 arriving from Dubai. During the observation, three suspicious abandoned bags were found at baggage belt No 1.
Upon searching the bags, 370 cartons of Mond brand cigarettes were recovered. In addition, 111 cartons of foreign cigarettes were seized from various other passengers arriving on different flights, bringing the total haul to 481 cartons.
The estimated market value of the cigarettes is Tk21.64 lakh, but the total value, including a 621 per cent Total Tax Incidence (TTI), amounts to approximately Tk1.56 crore.
In a separate incident on the same flight (BG-148), officials searched the handbag of a passenger identified as Md Tajul Islam and recovered 99 grams of gold jewellery hidden inside. Verification of his passport revealed that he had imported 100 grams of gold jewellery duty-free on 10 June 2026.
Under the Baggage Rules 2025, passengers are not permitted to import additional gold jewellery duty-free within the same year beyond the specified limit. Consequently, the 99 grams of jewellery, with a market value of Tk18.74 lakh and a total value (including tax) of Tk30 lakh, were seized.
The CIID team also seized 12kg of prohibited “Goree” cream, valued at Tk2.40 lakh.
Furthermore, 11 litres of foreign whisky were recovered from various passengers arriving from Kolkata. The market value of the liquor is estimated at Tk2.20 lakh, but with a 610.30 per cent tax incidence, the total value stands at Tk15.62 lakh.
The total estimated value of all seized items, including applicable duties and taxes, is Tk2,04,07,000.
Legal proceedings are currently underway in accordance with the Customs Act, Baggage Rules, and other applicable laws. The CIID said such operations would continue to prevent smuggling, tax evasion, and the import of prohibited goods.
