Two illegally imported pistols seized at airport

The customs intelligence officials yesterday seized two illegally imported pistols at the air cargo store of the capital's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The two Walther PP pistols were old and used, import of which is a violation of the Import Policy Order 2015-18, said Moinul Khan, director general of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).

On information, law enforcers examined a consignment of arms, which was waiting to be released from the store, he said.

The consignment includes 56 more arms, which will be scanned tomorrow, Moinul said, adding that they also seized all papers of the consignment.

The Import Policy Order prohibits import of secondary or substandard quality products, or old, used, repaired products, or products scrapped by factory.

Moinul claimed that the importer brought the arms claiming those as new products, but they found those to be old, used and invalid.

Each of the pistols costs 90 euros, while a 289.21 percent of tax was applicable on them.

The importer of the arms consignment is Emran Arms and Company, and its cost and freight agent is MM Traders, which applied for release of the consignment on June 3, he added.

Moinul said CIID would investigate why the buyer illegally imported the arms.

The Daily Star repeatedly tried to reach the office of Emran Arms and Company over the phone, but nobody took the call.