Three Arrested in Benapole Customs Smuggling Attempt

A major controversy has emerged at the Benapole Customs House following allegations that an organised syndicate attempted to smuggle high-tariff Indian goods, valued at over £100,000 (approximately 1.15 crore BDT), under the guise of a consignment bound for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Following a successful interception by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), which resulted in the seizure of a covered van laden with illicit commodities, serious allegations regarding the complicity of customs personnel have surfaced. Consequently, Benapole Customs authorities have suspended two Assistant Revenue Officers (AROs) and three sepoys pending a full departmental inquiry.

Context of the Smuggling Attempt

According to institutional sources, the confiscated items consisted of commercial Indian goods previously seized by law enforcement agencies along the border and from passengers at the Benapole International Checkpost. These commodities were securely stored within the customs warehouse, where administrative procedures were underway to officially transfer them to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as per government regulations.

Allegations indicate that a smuggling syndicate exploited this official transfer window to surreptitiously extract high-duty commercial goods from the warehouse, masking them as humanitarian relief supplies.

The BGB Interception and Arrests

Acting on precise intelligence, members of the Benapole BGB Company conducted a targeted operation in the Benapole Bazar area at approximately 3:00 am on Tuesday (23 June). During the raid, the BGB intercepted a covered van bearing the registration number Dhaka Metro-To 24-5621.

A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a substantial quantity of unauthorised Indian goods. The BGB detained three individuals at the scene:

• Sri Indrajit Mukherjee (38), an Assistant Revenue Officer at Benapole Customs House;

• Mohammad Mohsin Ali (34), the driver of the covered van;

• Mohammad Zahid Hasan (21), the driver’s assistant.

Investigative units confirmed that the seized cargo contained high-tariff Indian sarees, three-piece dresses, branded cosmetics, and banned Indian pharmaceuticals. The preliminary market value of the seized commodities is estimated at 1.15 crore BDT. BGB personnel are currently compiling a definitive inventory to ascertain the final seizure value and determine exactly how the goods were removed from the secure warehouse.

Port Stakeholders Express Concern

The incident has triggered widespread condemnation within the local commercial community. Imdaduul Haque Lata, General Secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, stated that exploiting an essential state initiative like the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for smuggling is a grave offence. He emphasised that a transparent investigation is vital to protect the reputation of the Benapole port and safeguard legitimate traders.

Echoing these concerns, C&F businessman Habibur Rahman Hobi remarked that this smuggling attempt is part of a broader pattern of systemic irregularities at the port, including recent cases of theft, duty evasion, and declaration fraud.

Chronology of Recent Irregularities at Benapole Port

The latest interception has exacerbated pre-existing concerns regarding security and oversight protocols at Benapole Port, which has witnessed multiple high-value inventory discrepancies in recent months:

Official Response from Customs Authorities

The Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, Mohammad Fyzur Rahman, affirmed that the institution is treating the matter with the utmost gravity. He confirmed that following a preliminary review, two Assistant Revenue Officers and three sepoys were suspended.

Commissioner Rahman reiterated that a comprehensive departmental probe has been launched, promising strict administrative and legal prosecution against any employee whose complicity is proven. He emphasized that the Customs House maintains a policy of zero tolerance toward corruption and institutional malpractice.