Suchana International, an importer from Chattogram, imported 55 lakh 52 thousand sticks of foreign cigarettes filled with 2772 cartons in the name of importing dates from UAE.
According to Chattogram Customs, the company has tried to evade revenue of Tk 7 crore 11 lakh through this fraud.
Md Sharfuddin Miah, Deputy Commissioner of AIR Branch, Chattogram Customs House, confirmed the matter on Monday afternoon.
According to Chattogram Customs sources, Jahangir Alam, owner of Suchana International, imported dates from the UAE in 40-foot containers. The consignment was shipped from the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates on December 27 last year. The consignment reached Chattogram port on 30 December. A letter was sent to Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminal to keep down the shipment as the importer did not submit the bill of entry even after a long time.
The AIR team of Customs opened the container and conducted the test on Sunday. There were a total of 2772 cartons of goods in that container. 1983 cartons contained tactical dates on the top of the packet and Mond brand foreign cigarettes on the bottom. 1983 cartons contained 55 lakh 52 thousand sticks of cigarettes.
Sharfuddin Miah, deputy commissioner of AIR branch of Chattogram Customs House, said the importer issued an LC from Global Islami Bank Khatunganj branch for the purpose of importing the goods.
The products were imported on December 30 last year. Since the importer did not submit the bill of entry even after a long time, we decided to conduct a full physical examination of the consignment.
There were 2,772 cartons inside the container. So far we have found 789 cartons of dates. I have found a total of 55 lakh 52 thousand sticks of foreign cigarettes hidden in the upper part and in the lower part. Its estimated market value is Tk 1 crore 19 lakh.
Through this fraud, the importer has tried to evade revenue of Tk 7 crore 11 lakh. Strict punishment is being meted out to those involved in the incident as per the Customs Act, 1969.