Seized foreign-brand cigarettes and mobile phones. Photo: Collected

CHATTOGRAM, July 19, 2025 (BSS)- Authorities at Shah Amanat International 
Airport in Chattogram have seized foreign-brand cigarettes and mobile phones 
worth Taka 59 lakh 95 thousand from three inbound passengers arriving here 
from Dubai.

The contraband items were recovered late Friday night from the passengers 
travelling on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS 344, which landed here from Dubai.
 
The passengers were identified as Mohammad Shah Alam and Md. Arfan, both from 
Hathazari and Ashraful Islam of Zorarganj upazila of the district.

Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil, public relations officer of Shah Amanat 
International Airport, confirmed the incident. 

He said a team of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) stationed at the 
airport conducted the search around 9:30 pm after the men appeared suspicious 
while crossing through the green channel of customs after immigration 
clearance.

"A total of 570 cartons of foreign-brand cigarettes worth Taka 19 lakh 95 
thousand and 30 mobile phones worth approximately Taka 40 lakh were recovered 
from their possession," Khalil said, adding that the cigarettes were seized 
as those fall under the list of prohibited imports and the mobile phones were 
confiscated for exceeding the allowable baggage limit. 

All three passengers were fined and their passport details were recorded, the 
official added.

He further said that they were released with a formal warning that legal 
action will be taken if similar incidents occur in the future.