Poppy seeds worth Tk 15 crore imported on false declaration seized in Ctg

Chattogram customs officials have seized 42 tonnes of poppy seeds -- which can be used for producing drugs -- imported under false declaration.

The consignment was imported, declaring it as 54 tonnes of mustard seeds, by a Dhaka-based trading company called Ajmin Trading Centre, Rezaul Karim, assistant commissioner of customs, told The Daily Star today.

He said, Hotline Cargo International -- a clearing and forwarding agent -- has the responsibility to deliver the goods which arrived at Chattogram port on April 18 this year.

The street value of the poppy seeds is around Tk 15 crore.

Acting on a tip-off, customs officials of the Audit, Research & Investigation department performed a physical examination and found 42 tonnes of poppy seeds last week, he added.

The officials seized the consignment today after chemical tests confirmed that those are indeed poppy seeds.