Smuggling trends at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport have shifted sharply over the past year, with foreign cigarettes now replacing gold bars as the most trafficked item. Customs intelligence reports that traffickers earn over Tk 3,500 profit per carton, paying nearly Tk 17 in duty per stick if imported legally. The high profit and comparatively low legal risk have driven this shift. Airport authorities say most contraband cigarettes now arrive on flights from Dubai, with smaller volumes from other Middle Eastern routes.
Officials confirmed that in the past six months, more than 25,000 cartons of cigarettes and large quantities of banned cosmetics were seized. The same networks previously involved in gold smuggling are now focusing on cigarettes. Customs officers suspect some airport security guards and contractors are linked to the syndicate, which uses complex methods to bypass checks, including switching passengers mid-route between Chattogram and Dhaka.
Airport management has introduced 100% scanning on Dubai flights to curb the trade, though smugglers are adapting tactics. Authorities pledged continued vigilance and coordination among agencies to prevent illegal imports and protect airport integrity.
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