Cops seize Tk 1.35cr fake cigarettes from courier service

Detectives arrested four employees of a courier service in Rajshahi city yesterday while they were transporting fake cigarettes and band-rolls worth Tk 1.35 crore to different parts of the country.

The arrestees are Liton Chandra Sutradhar (43), manager of Rajshahi branch of SA Paribahan Private Limited; Md Shafiul Alam (38) and Yousuf Ali (40), two parcel booking assistants; Nobab Ali (30), a driver.

Acting on a tip off, a team of Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police raided the branch and arrested them, said Golam Ruhul Kuddus, additional deputy commissioner of RMP.

The courier service men were transporting the counterfeit cigarettes and band-rolls fully knowing that these goods were illegal, the police official said.

He said the arrested persons were being interrogated for finding out those behind booking those illegal goods.

Police increased vigilance over the courier services after they came to know that they were engaged in transporting illegal goods often, said the RMP ADC, adding that police in other times seized drugs from couriers.