Bangladesh's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) seized a large consignment of foreign cigarettes, banned beauty cream, and foreign liquor in three separate operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aimed at curbing smuggling and illegal imports.

The combined haul from the three operations included 349 cartons of foreign cigarettes, 380 kilograms of import-banned cream, and one litre of foreign liquor, with a total market value of 9.016 million taka and an applicable duty of 879086 taka, taking the combined value to 17806860 taka, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said in a press release.

Acting on a tip-off, the CIID's A-shift raided flights EK582 and EK5826 arriving from Dubai on Monday, seizing 170 cartons of cigarettes, nine kilograms of banned cream, and one litre of foreign liquor from three passengers. The consignment, with duty included, was valued at 5,224,860 taka.

In an earlier operation on August 11, the same shift intercepted flight BG148 from Dubai and seized 179 cartons of cigarettes and 52 kilograms of banned cream from several passengers, valued with duty at 6,202,360 taka.

Separately, officials raided the airport's Foreign Post Office and seized 319 kilograms of import-banned beauty cream in a single consignment, with an estimated market value of 6.38 million taka. Legal proceedings, including the filing of a case, are underway, the NBR said.

The NBR said CIID would continue intelligence-based surveillance and operations targeting passengers and cargo to curb smuggling and protect government revenue.