Chattogram Bureau :
Chittagong Custom House has seized a large quantity of foreign brand cigarettes in consignments arriving at Chittagong port under duty free (bond) facility. In this consignment, the customs officials have stopped the mischievous attempt of evading revenue of Tk 14 crore . According to Custom House sources, Versatile Limited, an importer from Raj Phulbaria area of Savar near Dhaka, imported 2,41,500 pieces of plastic hangers in a container from China, announcing clothing accessories. The container carrying MV Alion ship from Shanghai port of China to Chittagong port was actually approved by the importer’s nominated C&F agent Jayita Trade Corporation of Chittagong on June 1 in the bill of entry (C-65295) to the National Board of Revenue. Later on Thursday (June 3), the Customs House Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) team searched the covered van for delivery of the consignment on the basis of secret information while trying to unload it from the NCT yard at Chittagong Port.
At that time, the customs officials saw two more inner cartons inside the Turag Garments and Hosiery printed on Gazipur with a removable sticker on the carton. Cigarettes of various foreign brands are found hidden inside. The matter was immediately reported to the higher authorities and a covered van (Dhaka Metro-T-22-6531) loaded with imported cigarettes was detained inside the port.. In the presence of Neshar Uddin, port security officer and members and representatives of other agencies, the shipment was physically inspected by the AIR officer. At this time, after taking out all the products from the covered van, it was seen that each of the 300 cartons contained two inner cartons of cigarettes. Among the 3 foreign bands, 20 lakh Shalaka Esse, 20 lakh Shalaka Mond and 20 lakh Shalaka Oris with a total of 60 lakh pcs cigarettes were found. Its total net weight is 3 thousand kg and estimated market value is 4 crore rupees. Attempts were made to evade government revenue of about Tk 14.5 crore by importing cigarettes, which were conditionally imported.
