DHAKA, Sept 2, 2025 (BSS) - After a long seven years, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has revealed the main secret of the case of smuggling 60,000 sticks of ESSE Light and BENSON & HEDGES cigarettes in six cartons. 
 
A Chattogram CID team arrested one person for his alleged involvement in the smuggling from Chattogram around 12.30am today and the accused voluntarily gave a confessional statement under section 164 of the CrPC before the court, said a police press release.
 
The name of the arrested person is Mohammad Hashem (42), son of late Md. Zaman, a permanent resident of Kusumpura Union under Patia Police Station of Chattogram district. 
 
According to the case details, Chattogram Metropolitan Detective Department conducted a raid on S.A. Paribahan, Kazir Deuri branch based on information that smuggled illegal cigarettes were being brought through couriers under the guise of cosmetics in 2018. 
 
Later on information, three bags of illegal foreign cigarettes were seized from Cox's Bazar branch of the SA Paribahan, of which one bag contained two master cartons of ESSE Light cigarettes while the second bag contained two master cartons of BENSON & HEDGES. 
 
In the booking memos of the cigarette import, a memo of a shop was given as the sender's information and the address and mobile number of a shop in Riazuddin Bazar, Chattogram was given as the recipient's information.
 
A case was lodged in this connection. 
 
Detective Branch (DB) of Chattogram first conducted an investigation into the case. Later, when it was handed over to CID, a total of eight investigating officers investigated the case.
 
During the investigation, it was learned that various mobile network companies have been selling their old unused SIMs to other customers for a long time in the 2nd or 3rd phase, and the accused purchased such a SIM and committed the crime of smuggling with it. 
 
Based on the information received, the investigating officers had been investigating the said person (not involved in the incident) as a suspect for seven years.
 
Although the home of the clever smuggler Mohammad Hashem was in the Shantirhat area of Patia, he did not stay in his own house but rented another house nearby to avoid arrest. 
 
He changed his mobile number and house frequently to avoid arrest and location, which made his arrest difficult.