Chattogram Customs House has seized two containers loaded with 24,960 kilograms of banned poppy seeds (poppy kernels) concealed under a false declaration of bird food. The consignment, imported from Pakistan, is estimated to be worth around Tk 6.5 crore, according to customs officials.

The containers arrived at Chattogram Port on October 9 and were later moved to the off-dock facility of Sabet Ahmed Timber Company Ltd. Acting on a tip-off, the Audit, Investigation, and Research (AIR) wing of the Chattogram Customs House detained the shipment for inspection.

According to customs sources, the C&F agent, M.H. Trading, submitted a bill of entry declaring the cargo as 32,010 kilograms of bird food with a declared value of Tk 30.02 lakh. However, suspicious inconsistencies in the declaration led customs authorities to suspend release and conduct a physical examination.

During the inspection, officials discovered that the front portion of the containers was filled with bird food, while the bulk of the cargo 24,960 kilograms consisted of poppy seeds concealed behind the cover load. Another 7,200 kilograms of bird food were found at the front section.

Samples were sent for laboratory testing to the Plant Quarantine Wing, the Nanotechnology Center at the University of Dhaka, and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). The test results confirmed the seized goods to be poppy seeds, the customs statement said.

Deputy Commissioner of Customs H. M. Kabir stated that the market value of the seized items was estimated at Tk 6.5 crore. “Under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, poppy seeds are categorized as a Class ‘A’ narcotic substance,” he said. “Moreover, as per the Import Policy Order 2021–2024, it is a prohibited item. Importing it under false declaration constitutes a punishable offense.”

Consignment has been officially confiscated under the Customs Act, 2023, and legal proceedings are underway against the importer and other responsible parties, the statement added.

Customs House further said it would strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures to prevent similar illegal import attempts in the future.