Rangamati, Jan 25, (V7N) - Rangamati's local markets are flooded with both smuggled foreign cigarettes and counterfeit ones. Illegal, tax-free foreign cigarettes are being smuggled into Rangamati daily through the remote border areas of the hill districts. Additionally, a network is selling counterfeit cigarettes of well-known Bangladeshi brands from Chattogram's Chakhtai in the hill markets.
 
On Saturday, based on a tip-off, a raid was conducted in the remote Baghaihat area at a location called "Training Tilla." Under the command of a patrol officer from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp at Training Tilla, two large bags containing 2,140 packets of foreign "Oris" brand cigarettes were seized. The smugglers managed to flee when they got wind of the operation. The estimated value of the seized illegal cigarettes is approximately 395,000 Bangladeshi Taka.
 
In another operation in Rangamati’s Kaukali Upazila, counterfeit cigarettes were seized in the Naylachhara area, located in the 5th Ward of Kolompotti Union. The haul included 3,800 pieces of "Derby" cigarettes, 500 pieces of "Top-20," and 1,000 fake "Akij" bidis. These counterfeit products were linked to the British American Tobacco (BAT) Company.
 
Mohammad Rubel Islam, a TSR (Trade Security Representative) of British American Tobacco Limited, confirmed that a group has been selling counterfeit cigarettes under the names of various local and international companies. After learning of this, the company’s legal team began monitoring the markets.
 
The counterfeit cigarettes were found when the group attempted to sell the products in Kaukali. Upon detection, the smugglers fled, leaving behind cigarettes worth around 25,000 Bangladeshi Taka. The cigarettes were later seized and handed over to Kaukali police station with the help of Sub-Inspector Aziz. Necessary legal actions are underway regarding the matter.
 
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