Customs Intelligence Seizes Smuggled Goods Worth Over 9.7M BDT at Airports

Bangladesh customs authorities have executed a series of high-profile intelligence operations targeting illegal smuggling activities at major aviation hubs in the country. The concerted enforcement actions were officially conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), operating under the broader framework of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). These rigorous inspections took place across two primary international gateways: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport situated in Dhaka, and Shah Amanat International Airport located in Chittagong.

The comprehensive airport operations were executed sequentially over a two-day period, specifically targeting incoming flights and passengers on August 31 and September 1, 2026. Through meticulous surveillance and baggage screening, customs intelligence officials successfully intercepted numerous attempts to evade national taxation and import regulations. The illicit consignments uncovered during the two-day crackdown encompassed a diverse array of restricted and high-duty commercial merchandise, including foreign cigarettes, modern smartphones, mobile LCD screens, technical motherboards and displays, foreign alcoholic beverages, restricted pharmaceuticals, and valuable gold jewelry.

Detailed operational inventories released following the inspections highlighted significant contraband seizures from individual passengers traveling through Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Authorities intercepted passenger Md. Mansur Alam, who was found in illegal possession of 231 cartons of foreign cigarettes. A separate interception involving passenger Mohammad Nawaz Sharif resulted in the seizure of an additional 250 cartons of foreign cigarettes. Furthermore, customs officials apprehended passenger Tipu Al Imran, uncovering a cache of 36 smartphones concealed within his belongings.

The extensive dragnet at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport also yielded substantial quantities of electronic components and contraband alcohol carried by other travelers and hidden within transport infrastructure. Officials recovered 550 pieces of mobile LCDs alongside an impressive total of 950 pieces of mobile motherboards and displays. Additional seizures included 18 litres of foreign liquor recovered from passenger Md. Al Amin, as well as another 3 litres of foreign liquor discovered inside an abandoned bag left within the terminal area. Concurrently, operations at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong resulted in the recovery of 100 grams of gold jewelry.

According to the official financial assessments compiled by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, the cumulative market value of all smuggled goods seized throughout these operations amounts to 9,713,100 BDT. The seized merchandise spans multiple carriers operating within the region, including flights associated with Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thai Airways, and Gulf Air. Investigations by customs authorities regarding the intercepted shipments and the implicated individuals remain ongoing as the National Board of Revenue continues its crackdown on airport smuggling networks.