Over 3 lakh illegal foreign cigarettes recovered from two secret warehouses in Mohammadpur

Photo: Collected

Two preventive teams of the Value Added Tax Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, Dhaka, have seized 316,400 sticks of foreign cigarettes in raids on secret warehouses in two residential buildings in the capital’s Mohammadpur. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes is Tk 35 lakh; against this, the government’s revenue on account of VAT, supplementary duty and surcharge is about Tk 30 lakh.

Acting on a tip-off, the raids were conducted on Wednesday in PC Culture Housing in Shyamoli and the Joint Quarter area of Mohammadpur. At around 11am, the two teams began raids on the two buildings simultaneously. The two warehouses were found locked. Later, the secret warehouses were identified with the help of the buildings’ security guards. Failing to find the warehouse owner, the intelligence team, with the cooperation of the building owners, brought in a mechanic from outside, broke the locks and went inside. A huge quantity of foreign cigarettes packed in sacks was found there.

From one warehouse, 202,200 sticks of Patron Nano, 10,000 of Mond Strawberry, 16,600 of Mond Silver and 26,400 sticks of Oris Nano were recovered. From the other warehouse, 61,200 sticks of cigarettes of the Orbit, Mond, Patron and Oris brands were found.

Talking to locals, the intelligence team learnt that although the addresses of the two warehouses are different, the real owner is the same person. He had rented the two warehouses saying it was for a dealership business. According to the security guard, goods were usually brought there at night and sent to various places through courier.

The building owners claim they knew nothing about the warehouse owner’s illegal business. They have also given assurance of being more careful in renting out warehouses in future. As the recovered cigarettes are illegal, they have been seized and kept at the nearest customs warehouse. Foreign cigarettes cannot be imported without prior permission and the statutory procedure; so they will later be destroyed in accordance with the rules. Legal action, including the filing of a case, is being taken over the incident.

The Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate said efforts are under way, with the cooperation of an important intelligence agency of the state, to identify and detain the smuggling ring. It has been learnt initially that the ring has been illegally supplying counterfeit foreign cigarettes to various districts of the country, including Dhaka.

Such drives will continue across the country in line with the directives of the National Board of Revenue to protect government revenue and stop the illegal production and marketing of tobacco products.