Dhaka, Oct. 29 -- Customs intelligence officials have seized 150 metric tonnes of raw tobacco in 10 containers imported from Pakistan by Global Leaf Tobacco Company Ltd under a bonded warehouse facility at Chattogram port, raising concerns over potential revenue evasion at both import and cigarette production stages.

The seized tobacco could be used to produce an estimated 2.143 billion premium cigarettes, with a potential retail market value of Tk 493.86 crore, according to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).

A preliminary examination found significant discrepancies in the declared import value of the consignment, the directorate said.

While similar products under the same Harmonised System (HS) code were as...