The Customs Intelligence yesterday seized a consignment of about 2,000 tonnes of sodium chloride laced with toxic chemicals dangerous for human health. The cargo was waiting to be picked up by two importers from Khatunganj, Chittagong, who brought the stuff from China.

A release by the customs intelligence yesterday said that the consignment, which had raised suspicion, was analysed at the applied chemistry department of Dhaka University. As much as 91.5 per cent sodium chloride, 7.5 per cent sodium sulphate and 1 per cent moisture were identified in the tested samples from the consignment.

The importers had declared the cargo as a cleaning agent of sodium sulphate. Sodium sulphate looked exactly like eating salt—bright and white—in the preliminary investigation by the Customs Intelligence.

Earlier, similar stuff was imported and marketed as salt, though sodium sulphate is used by industries to produce detergents and drying agents. Medical experts said it could harm people, especially women, if consumed as salt.

As per the Import Policy 2015-18, sodium chloride is a banned import item. But a section of unscrupulous traders are bringing this stuff by into the country unscrupuliusly to maximize their profits.

The importers of the impounded cargo would be charged under the Customs Act and other sections of the CrPc.