-- 2,71,76,500 rupees recovered from the container

-- 6 detained in this connection

-- Smuggling case to be filed

Over 2.71 crore Indian rupees have been recovered from the container that was seized at Chittagong port yesterday.

In overnight drives, law enforcers also detained six persons in this connection.

The detainees are C&F agent Flash Trade International Limited Chairman ASM Sayem alias Shamim, Managing Director Asadullah, Director Md Ahammod Ullah Talukder, driver Md Kawser Alam, Towhidul Alam and Saber, a tea boy at the port's dock.

The container was containing unaccompanied baggage of Towhidul's elder brother UAE expat Shaheduzzaman, who went into hiding following the incident.

Moinul Khan, director general of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, told The Daily Star that the six were picked up from different parts of the port city.

Earlier yesterday, some Indian currencies were recovered from a container carrying unaccompanied baggage at Chittagong port. The container was kept sealed for the night, and was opened this morning to check all the packages in front of high officials concerned.

"There were a total of 165 packages in the container. After opening all the packages, Indian currencies were recovered from four packages. The currencies were kept in hidden chambers of the packages," Moinul Khan informed.

A portion of the recovered Indian currencies. Photo: Dwaipayan Barua

A total of 54,353 notes of 500 rupee, totalling 27,176,500 rupees, were recovered from the four packages, Moinul told The Daily Star, adding that four gold chains were also recovered from the packages.

"Examining the packages, it is assumed that the shipment was done as a camouflage, and Bangladesh was used as a transit route to smuggle the currencies," Moinul added.

Moinul also informed that although the currencies are yet to be examined, it is suspected that these are counterfeited currencies.

A smuggling case will be filed with Bandar Police Station in this connection, Moinul informed.

Regarding C&F agent Flash Trade International Limited, Moinul said the agent is a black listed one, adding that it has records of irregularities.

Quoting Import General Manifest (IGM), our Chittagong correspondent reported that the container was shipped by MV Prosper, a marshal island flag carrier. It departed from UAE's Jebel Ali port on September 12 and arrived at Chittagong port on September 16.