Dhaka, Sept 24 (V7N) – Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka seized 9.6 million cigarette tax stamps and 222 kilograms of mobile phone LCDs during a special drive at the import cargo section on Monday afternoon. The goods, concealed within consignments declared as garment accessories, were intercepted on the basis of intelligence, Dhaka Customs House confirmed.
 
Joint Commissioner of Customs Kamrul Islam verified the seizure, stating that the operation was carried out after specific intelligence indicated attempts to smuggle undeclared and prohibited items through bonded warehouse facilities.
 
According to customs sources, a firm named Mahadi Fashion, based in Pubail, Gazipur, imported nearly three tons of consignments from China under two airway bills. While officially declared as paper labels, gum tape, and laces, inspection revealed the concealed cigarette stamps and LCD screens. Officials said the import attempt was orchestrated through collusion between the importer and its nominated clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent, City Air Lines.
 
Authorities estimate that had the consignment been released, it would have caused a revenue loss of around Tk 54 crore to the government. The seized goods have been confiscated, and legal action has been initiated against both the importer and the C&F agent.
 
Preliminary investigations suggest that an organized smuggling network has long been exploiting bonded facilities to import prohibited and high-value items under the cover of garment accessories. Customs officials believe the racket involves international connections as well as local collaborators, and further investigations are underway to uncover the wider network.
 
A senior official at Customs House noted, “We had intelligence that several recent consignments contained undeclared high-duty and restricted goods. We suspect a transnational smuggling group is behind this. Monitoring and enforcement at the airfreight cargo section have been intensified to prevent further attempts.”
 
Experts warn that beyond revenue losses, the smuggling of cigarette tax stamps poses serious risks to public health and market integrity. Illegally circulated cigarettes evade government pricing and taxation systems, creating unfair competition in the tobacco industry while exposing consumers to fraud and health hazards.
 
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