Upazila authorities and police seized about 2 million counterfeit cigarettes during a raid on an illegally operated factory in Daulatpur, Kushtia. The operation was conducted from 11:30am to 2pm on Wednesday at Habib Master’s farm in Garbaria village of Sadar union. Officials estimated the market value of the seized cigarettes at Tk 20 million.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Pradip Kumar Das said the raid followed a tip-off and uncovered the illegal factory inside a warehouse. Authorities seized counterfeit cigarettes branded Navy, Derby and Royal, along with a large quantity of raw materials and production equipment. No one was detained during the operation.

Warehouse owner Habib Master said he had rented the premises for Tk 40,000 a month to two people named Shakil and Leon Hossain and claimed he did not know counterfeit cigarettes were being made there. On May 9, a joint RAB and customs raid at the same factory seized five cigarette-making machines and about 100,000 counterfeit cigarettes before sealing it. The seized goods were handed to Daulatpur police station, and a regular case is being processed.