Counterfeit cigarettes, bandrolls seized in Kishoreganj

In a joint operation by the VAT department, law enforcement, and local authorities, a significant haul of counterfeit cigarettes and fake bandrolls was seized from Heritage Tobacco in Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, and Tara International Tobacco in Bhairab. 

The estimated revenue loss from these counterfeit products is approximately Tk26 crore, according to a press release issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) today (25 September).

During the raids on the two cigarette manufacturing companies, authorities discovered a mixture of genuine and counterfeit bandrolls on the cigarettes. An inventory is currently underway to separate the authentic bandrolls from the fake ones. 

A large number of used counterfeit stamps were also recovered from both manufacturers. The estimated revenue loss from these fake stamps exceeds Tk25 crore.

The Customs, Excise, and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka East, is overseeing the investigation. 

The commissioner, Md Zakir Hossain, told The Business Standard that the process of filing a case is ongoing and that authorities are also investigating the source of the counterfeit bandrolls and stamps.

Hossain further noted that the investigation has uncovered three types of irregularities - counterfeit cigarettes, fake bandrolls, and the use of premium segment bandrolls - by a factory only approved for producing lower segment cigarettes.