VAT officials seized 1.75 lakh bidi sticks from a pickup van in Rangpur’s Kaunia early on 25 September as revenue authorities stepped up scrutiny of tobacco products over suspected illegal production, transportation and tax evasion.
Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Rangpur VAT Division searched the vehicle at Mirbagh Bazar in Kaunia upazila at around 4:10am and seized the bidi sticks, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said in a statement.
The authorities have yet to determine whether the seized products were counterfeit or illegally manufactured.
Officials will examine their legality, brand, packaging and labels, revenue payments and other related information. Tests and further verification will also be conducted to determine whether the products were produced illegally or were counterfeit, the commissionerate said.
Legal action will be taken under existing laws and regulations based on the findings of the investigation.
The operation was part of continuing enforcement and surveillance by offices under the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Rangpur, following instructions from the NBR to curb illegal production, transportation and marketing of tobacco products and prevent revenue evasion.
The NBR said illegal tobacco production and distribution deprive the government of revenue and create uneven competition for legally marketed tobacco products.
It said enforcement and surveillance would continue to protect revenue, curb the spread of illegal tobacco products and maintain order in the legal market.
