Detective Branch (DB) of Bogura police on Friday recovered a significant amount of counterfeit cigarettes and fake tax stamps after raiding an illicit cigarette factory in the district’s Shibganj.
A DB team seized approximately 160,000 counterfeit Derby cigarette sticks, 5 lakh fake tax stamps, as well as empty packets of Star and Derby cigarettes, along with manufacturing equipments from Shibganj upazila’s Uthuli.
Bogura District DB Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafiz Hasan said, "Upon learning that counterfeit cigarettes are being manufactured under the guise of the British American Tobacco in a residence in Uthuli area, we conducted a raid and seized 160,000 Derby cigarette sticks with tax stamps, various scotch tapes, and foil papers."
Illegal production of counterfeit cigarettes has been reported by DB sources, with SM Tobacco allegedly operating a factory in a remote Shibganj area. These cigarettes, marked with fake tax stamps, are being sold in various markets across the country.
The recent seizure included around 5 lakh fake tax stamps, potentially linked to at least 50 lakhs of cigarette sticks.
In this incident, two cases will be filed under the Special Powers Act and Trademark Act.
In 2021, the police closed down the SM Tobacco factory owned by Suraiya Sarkar. However, recent document revealed that Noor Imran Shahriar Sarkar is the actual owner. Attempts to contact Shahriar Sarkar were unsuccessful as his mobile was found switched off.
The company used to produce counterfeit cigarettes using the Sathi cinema hall building in Bogura. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sealed it on allegations of revenue evasion of Tk 100 crore. Later, the company set up a factory again in a remote area of Shibganj.
According to the law, setting up a cigarette factory requires approximately 19 approvals, including clearance from the Department of Environment. Additionally, marketing cigarettes entails paying up to 81 per cent in taxes.
Illegal cigarette factories are often established to circumvent these significant tax obligations.
SM Tobacco mainly produces cigarettes like Dubai, Senor Gold, Smart Black, etc. These cigarettes are sold at a much lower price than the government set price. Economists said illegal cigarettes produced duplicating popular brands to make higher profits.
