Customs intelligence officials today seized a consignment of 2000 tonnes of salt imported illegally at Chittagong Port.

Two importing firms Azmir Trading Corporation and Asha Enterprise-- imported the salt in a single consignment from China last month.

The firms had declared in the import documents to import 2000 tonnes of sodium sulphate since import of sodium chloride is prohibited, said Tarek Mahmud, assistant director of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate in Chittagong.

Tipped off, customs intelligence officials on June 19 stopped delivery of the consignment, and presence of sodium chloride was found through primary sample test at the chemical laboratory of Chittagong Customs House, said sources in the directorate.

Later, sample was sent to the laboratory of Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Dhaka University for further test, and the test report confirmed presence of 91.5 percent sodium chloride mixed with sodium sulphate.

After finding the report today, the consignment was seized, said AD Tarek, adding that though the importers declared to import sodium sulphate as cleaning agent but test report confirmed major portion of the compound as sodium chloride.

Contacted, Director General (DG) Moinul Khan of Customs Intelligence Directorate said importers tried to import contraband salt and also tried to evade huge revenue since the duties for importing sodium sulphate is around 23 percent while duties for sodium chloride is 63 percent.

Moreover, sodium sulphate is very harmful for human body as it may cause different health complications like kidney failure and others but is often used to brighten salt as a malpractice, he said, adding that punitive action would be taken against the importers.