Customs seize Tk 42.88m in illegal goods at Shahjalal Airport

Customs officials seized 133 grammes of gold, 2,589 medicines, 51 cartons of cigarettes, 31kg of banned cream, 708 prohibited serum products and six litres of foreign liquor in separate raids on four flights at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) conducted the operations based on confidential information. The seized goods have an estimated market value of Tk 4.288 million.

According to CIID officials, the first operation was conducted after SriLankan Airlines flight UL189 arrived in Dhaka from Colombo. Officials monitored a passenger identified as MD Parvez and stopped him as he attempted to pass through the green channel.

A search of his trolley led to the recovery of 133 grammes of gold concealed in a specially constructed compartment. Officials also found 2,589 medicines in his luggage. The passenger reportedly failed to produce the required permits and supporting documents for the conditional import of the medicines.

The estimated value of the gold, medicines and related goods was around Tk 3 million.

In a separate operation, CIID officials searched the baggage of Jony Mia, a passenger arriving on Air India flight AI237, and seized six litres of Grants-brand foreign liquor worth an estimated Tk 120,000.

Officials also searched the baggage of Md Mizanur Rahman, who arrived on Emirates flight EK586, and seized 29 cartons of cigarettes and 708 Pakistani Whiting Serum products. The estimated value of the goods was Tk 449,100.

Meanwhile, a search of the baggage of Suma Begum, a passenger arriving on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS316, led to the seizure of 30kg of Gauri cream, which is banned for import. The seized cream was valued at around Tk 600,000.

CIID said the four operations resulted in the seizure of 133 grammes of gold, 2,589 medicines, 51 cartons of cigarettes, 31kg of banned cream, 708 prohibited serum products and six litres of foreign liquor, with a combined estimated market value of Tk 4.288 million.

Officials said the operations were conducted based on confidential intelligence, passenger profiling and close surveillance.

They added that such operations would continue to prevent smuggling and the illegal import of goods through the airport.