Customs intelligence officials have seized foreign cigarettes, vapes and mobile phone displays from passengers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The seized goods-223 cartons of foreign cigarettes, 44 vapes and 144 -have an estimated value of Tk 17.46 lakh, according to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
Acting on a tip-off received on 13 September, officials of the Airport Customs Intelligence and Investigation Circle, B-shift, stepped up surveillance of passengers arriving on various international flights.
A passenger identified as Abdul Karim, who arrived from Dubai on Emirates flight EK584, was stopped for a baggage check while crossing the Green Channel after his luggage appeared suspicious.
A subsequent search and inventory found 223 cartons of foreign cigarettes in his baggage, which were seized by customs officials.
On the same day, customs officials searched the baggage of Shepon, a passenger arriving from Malaysia on AirAsia flight AK71, and recovered 44 vapes.
In another operation, officials recovered 98 mobile phone displays from KM Tofail Ahmed, a passenger arriving from Guangzhou on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS326.
They also recovered another 46 mobile phone displays from Shamima Akter, who arrived on the same flight.
The two passengers were carrying a total of 144 mobile phone displays.
Customs intelligence officials are examining whether the incidents are linked to organised smuggling networks and whether passengers were being used as carriers for smuggled goods.
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