Customs officials at Chittagong port have seized a shipment of 24,960 kg of poppy seeds imported from Pakistan that was falsely declared as bird food.
The seizure was carried out by the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch of Chittagong Customs.
Deputy Commissioner (Preventive) HM Kabir said in a statement that the market value of the seized poppy seeds is approximately Tk 6.5 crore, while the shipment was falsely declared at just Tk 30.2 lakh. Since poppy seeds are banned for import, legal action is being taken.
According to the customs statement, the shipment arrived at Chittagong port on October 9 in two containers, totaling 32,010 kg, and was sent to the depot of Ahmed Timber Company Ltd for clearance under the guise of bird food. The importer listed on the documents is M/S Adib Trading of Koroibganj, Chattogram, and the C&F agent, M H Trading Customs C&F Ltd, submitted the bill of entry on October 14, falsely declaring the goods as bird food.
Upon reviewing the shipment’s origin, exporter, and importer, customs suspected false declaration and suspended clearance, locking the bill of entry in the Asycuda World system.
On October 22, in the presence of depot authorities and the C&F company, the AIR branch physically inspected the containers and found 7,200 kg of bird food on top and 24,960 kg of poppy seeds hidden underneath. Samples were sent for physical and chemical testing to the Plant Quarantine Department at Chittagong port, the Nanotechnology Center at Dhaka University, and Khulna University of Engineering & Technology.
Chemical tests confirmed that the 24,960 kg shipment consisted of poppy seeds. Customs officials noted that the seeds were deliberately concealed under bird food to evade detection.
Under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, poppy seeds are classified as a Class ‘A’ narcotic, and they are listed as prohibited for import under the Import Policy Order 2021–24 (Section 3(1)(b)). However, locally, poppy seeds are used as a spice called posthdana.
The declared value of the shipment was Tk 30.2 lakh, but the actual market value is approximately Tk 6.5 crore.
Legal action is being pursued against the individuals and companies involved.
