DHAKA, July 31, 2026 (BSS) – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has seized contraband goods worth about Tk 2.04 crore, including foreign cigarettes, gold ornaments, banned Gouri cream and foreign liquor, during a special drive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the capital.

The estimated value of the seized goods, including applicable customs duties and taxes, stands at around Tk 2.04 crore, according to a CIID press release.

Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Airport A-Shift of the CIID conducted the operation on July 30.

During surveillance of baggage collection of passengers arriving on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-148 from Dubai, officials found three unclaimed suspicious bags on baggage belt No. 1.
A search of the bags led to the recovery of 370 cartons of Mond-brand foreign cigarettes.

During the same operation, customs officials also seized 111 more cartons of foreign cigarettes from passengers arriving on different flights, taking the total seizure to 481 cartons.

The market value of the cigarettes is estimated at Tk 21.64 lakh, while their value, including applicable duties and taxes calculated at a Total Tax Incidence (TTI) of 621 percent, stands at around Tk 1.56 crore.

In a separate incident, officials recovered 99 grams of gold ornaments concealed inside the handbag of passenger Md Tajul Islam, holder of passport No. A16264704, who also arrived on the Dubai flight.

Verification of his passport revealed that he had earlier imported 100 grams of gold ornaments duty-free on June 10, 2026.

As the Baggage Rules, 2025 do not allow duty-free import of additional gold ornaments beyond the annual permissible limit, the newly imported 99 grams were confiscated.

The seized gold ornaments have an estimated market value of Tk 18.75 lakh, while their value including duties and taxes is around Tk 30 lakh.

The drive also resulted in the seizure of 12 kilograms of banned Gouri cream, valued at approximately Tk 2.40 lakh.

Besides, customs officials seized 11 litres of foreign liquor (whisky) of different brands from passengers arriving from Kolkata.

The liquor has an estimated market value of Tk 2.20 lakh, while its value including applicable duties and taxes, calculated at a 610.30 percent tax incidence, is about Tk 15.62 lakh.

According to the CIID, legal action is being taken under the Customs Act, the Baggage Rules, 2025, and other relevant laws.

The directorate said it would continue such drives to prevent smuggling, customs and tax evasion, and the illegal import of prohibited goods.