NSI-led raid seizes counterfeit stamps from cigeratte factories

A mobile court has seized some counterfeit cigarette tax stamps (banderoles) and fake cigarettes worth around Tk 1.2 million from a number of bidi factories in Shibpur upazila, Narsingdi. Two persons, including Nepal Dutta who is alleged to be the ringleader of a network which supplies counterfeit tax stamps, have been arrested in connection with the case.

The operation took place on Sunday (8th November) afternoon in the Kamrabo Bazar area of the upazila on the basis of information received from the NSI. Shibpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Samiur Rahman has confirmed the operation.

The arrested are identified as Nepal Dutta (69), son of the late Manindra Dutta of Bati Kanaipur, Kotwali Upazila, Faridpur and Md. Rakib (25), son of Zamir Uddin of Kamrabo, Shibpur Upazila, Narsingdi.

866 bundles of counterfeit cigarette tax stamps were seized during the course of the operation (each bundle contained 2,500 pieces so the total was 2,165,000). The total value of the stamps is estimated at Tk 1.15 million.

Additionally 90,000 counterfeit bidis were seized (value approx Tk 18,300).

As per mobile court sources, a number of the bidi units in the Kamrabo area had been making cigarettes using bogus tax stamps which had led to a massive loss to the exchequer.

Preliminary NSI investigation suggests that there was a network of supply of counterfeit tax stamps via Nepal Dutta, who was allegedly supplying the fake banderoles to various bidi units.

Acting on intel, the NSI was directly involved in the raid in the Kamrabo Bazar area. A team from the Narsingdi District Detective Branch (DB) of police also took part in the operation.

The joint team went to a number of bidi factories and seized the counterfeit tax stamps and the cigarettes.

Shibpur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Samiur Rahman said the counterfeit tax stamps seized and the individuals arrested had been handed over to the police station.

Legal proceedings in relation to the incident are ongoing, he added.

- MaT