Coast Guard seized fake cigarettes, contraband syrup in Patuakhali
Patuakhali Correspondent
In a joint operation, the Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized a large cache of smuggled fake cigarettes and contraband items hoarded for illegal distribution in Patuakhali.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, Coast Guard media officer, confirmed the details of the drive on Sunday morning.
According to the Coast Guard, acting on a tip-off, a team from Coast Guard Station Patuakhali, in collaboration with other forces, conducted a raid in the Sabujbagh area under Patuakhali Sadar Police Station at around 2:00 AM on Saturday (August 29).
During the search of three suspicious warehouses in the area, the joint team seized 18,400 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, 2,820 sticks of foreign cigarettes, 74 packets of rolling paper, and 60 bottles of banned sexual stimulant syrup. The entire consignment, valued at approximately Tk 1,73,300, was allegedly brought in evading customs duties for unauthorized market distribution.
No arrests were made during the operation, as the dishonest traders managed to flee the scene upon sensing the presence of the joint forces.
The seized contraband items have been handed over to Patuakhali Sadar Police Station for the initiation of necessary legal proceedings.
The Coast Guard reiterated that such anti-smuggling operations will continue in the future to curb illicit trade and protect public health.
