Foreign cigarettes, worth Tk9cr in revenue, seized at Ctg port
The consignment's dutiable value was assessed at Tk1.5 crore, with a revenue potential of approximately Tk9 crore
Chattogram Custom House authorities today (1 December) seized a container carrying foreign-brand cigarettes worth Tk9 crore in evaded revenue from the Chattogram port.
Md Rajib Hossain, assistant commissioner of Chattogram Custom House, said, "The Audit, Investigation, and Research Unit of Customs intercepted the consignment and conducted a physical examination at the port.
"It was found to contain 74 lakh cigarettes packed in 740 cartons, falsely declared as household goods to evade taxes."
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The consignment was imported from Thailand under the name of Khyaati Leather Innovation BD Ltd, a company based in the Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ).
The cigarette brands included LAMER Nano Silver, Nano Grey, Nano Blue, and Nano White.
The consignment's dutiable value was assessed at Tk1.5 crore, with a revenue potential of approximately Tk9 crore.
Customs officials stated that legal action would be taken under the Customs Act to identify and prosecute those involved in the fraud.
When contacted, Khyaati Leather Innovation BD Ltd denied involvement in the shipment.
Rajesh Satyapal Uppal, director of the company, said, "We are an Indian-based company, and we have not imported any products in the last one and a half years. We are still awaiting a bond license. Without it, we cannot import goods. A gang has likely misused our company's name for this consignment."
Earlier, on 5 September, customs officials reported that they seized 11,676 liters of imported liquor that had been falsely declared as fabric.
Similarly, on 27 June, they intercepted 5,00,000 cigarettes misdeclared as water purifier machines.
