Customs officials have seized illegal products worth Tk 30 crore at Benapole border from the India returnees in the past 10 months.
The Commissioner of Benapole Customs House Md. Azizur Rahman and Joint Commissioner A. Rashid Mia at the check-post searched the luggage of the passport holders returning from India and seized the products.
During this time, officials have filed 1,613 departmental cases regarding the seizure of illegal products.
The seized Indian products include 3,549 sarees, 2,930 salwar-kameez, 2,702 kg chocolates, 10,422 cosmetics, 262 medicines, 86 litre alcohol, 451 kg jewellery, 996 kg fabrics, 123 kg, Blankets, 4,465 kg parts and machinery, 104 kg sandals and 10 mobile phones.
According to customs sources, a gang was importing goods outside the baggage rules for a long time, evading taxes upon the products.
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A. Rashid Mia, joint commissioner of Benapole Customs House, said customs officials have been working to curb smuggling. The check-post have remained unprotected for a long time and it was easy to smuggle
“But now we have adopted a zero-tolerance policy on smuggling,” he said.