Habiganj, July 24 (V7N) — Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized 6,300 kilograms of smuggled Indian cumin worth approximately Tk 80.4 lakh, along with a covered truck, after uncovering an alleged attempt to transport the consignment using forged customs documents bearing counterfeit official seals and signatures.
According to a BGB press release issued on Thursday night, the operation was carried out by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-55 as part of its ongoing anti-smuggling drive.
Acting on confidential intelligence, BGB personnel set up a special checkpoint at around 11:00 p.m. on July 22 near the Teliapara Railway Crossing on the old Dhaka-Sylhet highway, approximately three kilometres inside the border.
At around 12:30 a.m., the driver of a covered truck allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled after noticing the presence of BGB personnel about 200 yards from the checkpoint.
With assistance from local residents, BGB members searched the vehicle and recovered 210 sacks containing 6,300 kilograms of Indian cumin.
During the search, officials also recovered scanned documents, counterfeit seals, and forged Bills of Entry and export documents allegedly prepared using the official seal and signature of a customs officer.
BGB said the documents were verified with Sabuj Mallik, Assistant Revenue Officer at Tamabil Land Customs Station, who confirmed that they had been fraudulently prepared. Following the verification, the entire consignment was seized for being transported with forged official documents.
Lieutenant Colonel Md. Tanzilur Rahman, Commanding Officer of BGB Battalion-55, described the forgery of a customs official's seal and signature as a serious offence intended to evade government regulations.
"Forging the official seal and signature of a customs officer to deceive the state is an extremely serious crime. BGB remains on maximum alert to prevent smuggling and document fraud along the border. We will continue strengthening our operations to protect the country's economy and bring those responsible to justice," he said.
The seized cumin is being handed over to the Habiganj Customs Office after completion of the required legal procedures.
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