DHAKA, Aug 17, 2026 (BSS) - The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials have seized 1,802 cartons of foreign cigarettes and 13 iPhones from a Dubai-arriving flight at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.

This is being described as the largest cigarette consignment seized at the airport in recent times.

The seized goods, including applicable customs duties and taxes, are valued at around Tk 5.54 crore.

The seizure was made based on confidential intelligence received from the Director General of the CIID. A special surveillance operation was launched after Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG148 arrived at the airport from Dubai at 8:18 am today.

During the operation, officials seized 264 cartons of cigarettes and four iPhones from passenger MD. Moinul Abdin. The cigarettes included 249 cartons of Platinum brand and 15 cartons of Mond brand.

Another passenger, Abdul Mannan, was found carrying 246 cartons of cigarettes and four iPhones. The consignment comprised 233 cartons of Platinum brand and 13 cartons of Mond brand, said an NBR press release.

Officials also seized 272 cartons of cigarettes and five iPhones from passenger Nurul Alam Riyad. His cigarette consignment included 265 cartons of Platinum brand and seven cartons of Eassy brand.

Another 1,020 cartons were found on the baggage belt.

The biggest seizure was made from unclaimed baggage on baggage belt No. 2. Officials recovered another 1,020 cartons of Platinum cigarettes from unclaimed baggage belonging to the same BG148 flight.

Thus, a total of 1,802 cartons of foreign cigarettes and 13 iPhones were seized from the single flight.

The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes is Tk 74.08 lakh. At a total tax incidence (TTI) of 621 percent, the applicable customs duties and taxes on the cigarettes amount to around Tk 4.60 crore.

The 13 seized iPhones have an estimated value of Tk 12.35 lakh, while applicable duties and taxes at a TTI of 58 percent amount to around Tk 7.24 lakh.

The total value of the seized cigarettes and mobile phones, including applicable customs duties and taxes, stands at approximately Tk 5.54 crore.

Officials said the discovery of large quantities of cigarettes and iPhones from several passengers on the same flight, along with more than 1,000 additional cartons from unclaimed baggage, is being treated as a matter of particular importance.

The seizure is considered the largest single cigarette haul recovered at Shah Amanat International Airport in recent times based on CIID intelligence.

The CIID said its intelligence, surveillance and enforcement operations will continue to be strengthened to prevent smuggling, protect government revenue and curb organized attempts to bring illegal goods into the country through international airports.