DHAKA, Aug 22, 2026 (BSS) - The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has seized gold-like paste, vape and vape liquids, a large quantity of mobile phones and cigarettes, milk powder, prohibited Gouri cream, foreign medicines, liquor and other goods worth around Taka 2.73 crore 
in a series of raids at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in recent days.

The anti-smuggling drives were conducted separately by the A, B and C shifts of CIID, foiling several attempts to smuggle and illegally import various goods through the airport.

On August 21, acting on reliable intelligence received by the Director General, CIID officials detained and searched a passenger arriving from Dubai on Flydubai flight FZ501 while crossing the Green Channel.

Various models of iPhone and Pixel mobile phones, 161 cartons of MOND cigarettes, whitening serum and two laptops were recovered from his possession, said an NBR press release here today.

On the same day, baggage searches of passengers arriving on EK582 and QR640 flights led to the seizure of foreign liquor, vape liquids and cigarettes.

The estimated market value of the goods seized in these operations was Taka 14.20 lakh.

Earlier on August 20, an A-shift operation searched three passengers arriving from Dubai and Bahrain on EK582, BS342 and GF250 flights and seized 21 cartons of cigarettes, 69 kilograms (1,740 pieces) of prohibited cream, 29.4 kilograms of NAN Pro Nutrition milk powder and 116 pieces (4.46 kg) of cream-based medicines.

The total value of the seized goods, including customs duties and taxes, was estimated at Taka 28,51,640.

In a separate B-shift operation on the same day, CIID officials searched baggage of passengers arriving on BS346, BS316 and EK586 flights and seized 83 cartons of cigarettes, 198 vapes, 10 Redmi Note 15 mobile phones, 36 kilograms of Gouri cream and four litres of foreign liquor, along with soap and other goods.

The estimated total value of the goods seized in these operations was Taka 80.87 lakh.On August 18, CIID officials searched a passenger arriving from Colombo on SriLankan Airlines flight UL189 while crossing the Green Channel and recovered various models of iPhone and Redmi phones, iPhone SKD front and back parts and 2,482 pieces of foreign medicines.

The estimated market value of the seized goods was Taka 54.02 lakh.

Earlier on August 17, a B-shift team searched the baggage of a passenger arriving from Dubai on Emirates flight EK584 and recovered 881 grams of gold-like paste.

Following the prescribed process through a goldsmith, the paste was found to contain 461 grams of gold bullion. The officials also seized eight kilograms of prohibited Gouri cream and 14 cartons of MOND cigarettes.

The total value of the seized goods, including customs duties and taxes, was estimated at Taka 95.35 lakh.

According to the figures provided, the combined declared or estimated value of the goods seized in the operations, including customs duties and taxes where applicable, stands at Taka 2,72,95,640, or around Taka 2.73 crore.

CIID officials said the operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport are continuing through intelligence-based action, passenger profiling and close shift-wise surveillance to detect evolving patterns and techniques of smuggling, ranging from gold paste and vapes to mobile phones, cigarettes, milk powder and prohibited creams.