Customs officials have seized two containers carrying 24,960kg of poppy seeds, a banned narcotic item, imported under a false declaration of bird food at Chittagong port.
Chittagong Customs House Deputy Commissioner HM Kabir confirmed the seizure in a statement on Thursday.
According to customs sources, the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch conducted the operation based on confidential information. The import documents declared 32,100kg of bird food in two containers shipped from Pakistan, but a physical examination revealed 24,960kg of poppy seeds and 7,200kg of bird food.
The consignment was imported by Messrs Adib Trading, located in the Korbaniganj area under Kotwali police station in Chittagong. MH Trading Customs C&F Agent Limited acted as the clearing agent.
Deputy Commissioner Kabir said the containers arrived at Chittagong port on October 23 and were taken to the off-dock facility of Chhabar Ahmed Timber Company Limited for clearance.
“Based on intelligence input, the customs authorities halted the clearance process and conducted a detailed examination, which confirmed the presence of poppy seeds,” he said.
Laboratory tests conducted by Dhaka University’s Nanotechnology Centre, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), and the Plant Quarantine Department confirmed the items to be poppy seeds.
Under the Import Policy Order 2021–2024, poppy seeds are listed as a class “A” narcotic and are strictly prohibited from import. The consignment has been seized under the “Customs Act 2023” for importing banned goods under a false declaration.
The declared value of the consignment was Tk30 lakh, while the actual market value is estimated at around Tk6.5 crore, customs officials said.