Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials seized 625 cartons of foreign cigarettes, a large quantity of whitening serum, zarda and foreign liquor in separate drives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. 

The total estimated market value of the seized goods stands at around Tk 28 lakh.

The seizures were made by the B and C shifts of the CIID based on reliable intelligence received by the director general.

During a drive by the B shift, officials kept special surveillance on Emirates flight EK584 arriving from Dubai.

While passing through the Green Channel, customs officials searched the baggage of passenger MD. Himel, holding passport number A16137538, and recovered 270 cartons of cigarettes and 1.24 kg of whitening serum.

Another passenger on the same flight, Sharmin Akter, holding passport number A15558837, was also found carrying 270 cartons of cigarettes.

The B shift seized a total of 540 cartons of cigarettes and 1.24 kg of whitening serum in the operation. The estimated market value of the seized goods was Tk 21.80 lakh.

In a separate operation, the C shift conducted surveillance on Air India flight AI237 arriving from Delhi.

After the flight landed at around 2:10am, officials searched the baggage of passenger Mahathe Hasan Babu, passport number A12376700, and seized 31 cartons of cigarettes and 132 pieces of Biscos whitening serum.

They also recovered 54 cartons of cigarettes, 144 pieces of whitening serum and 3 kg of zarda from another passenger, SOHODUL HASAN SHAKIL, passport number A09913003.

In another operation, officials searched the baggage of passenger Rafiqul Sarder, passport number A21565755, who arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR640 from Doha, and seized 3 litres of foreign liquor.

According to the CIID, the C shift seized a total of 85 cartons of cigarettes, 276 pieces of Biscos whitening serum, 5 kg of zarda and 3 litres of liquor, with an estimated market value of Tk 6.20 lakh.

The CIID said the coordinated operations by the two shifts on the same day resulted in the seizure of goods worth nearly Tk 28 lakh, including 625 cartons of cigarettes.

The agency has been maintaining heightened surveillance at the airport to prevent smuggling and misuse of baggage facilities, officials said.

The seized goods have been taken into custody for further legal proceedings.