Pabna Ishwardi based EPZ Tianye Outdoor (BD) Co. Limited imported a container from China which was found carrying 1 crore 68 lacs and 30 thousand sticks of cigarettes of different brands. There was an attempt to evade revenue of around Tk 21 crores and 57 lacs by smuggling these cigarettes, which were worth Tk 3 crores and 62 lacs. The consignment arrived at Chittagong port with a 100% duty-free facility.
On Monday (28 February) in the presence of representatives of various organisations, the customs officials opened the containers at the Chittagong port and found the cigarettes.
The shipment arrived at the port in a 40-foot-long container, announced as cotton yarn from China. The IP was issued from BEPZA for the purpose of importing the consignment. C&F Agent Crony Shipping Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd. of Stand Road, Chattogram submitted the Bill of Entry (C-56449) to the National Board of Revenue’s ASYCUDA World System on 22 February for release. The consignment was then submitted to the EPZ Customs Authority on February 24 for customs clearance. Suspicion was raised about the validity of the IP, and BEPZA was contacted to verify the matter. If any discrepancies occur during the verification, the matter is reported to the Audit, Investigation, and Research (AIR) team of the customs house. AIR got a preliminary idea about the falsehood in the invoice declaration. Then on 26 February, the unloading of the consignment was suspended.
After failing to contact the concerned C&F agent for physical testing, a letter was sent to the port on Sunday (27 February) to force-keep down the container at the port. On Monday, the container was opened and inspected in the presence of representatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department, various government intelligence agencies, and the C&F Agents Association. The cigarettes were found in 877 cartons in the container.
The commissioner of the customs house has issued directions to take strict and exemplary action by identifying the offenders in this incident.
