39 truckloads of fruits smuggled out of Benapole port evading tax

BENAPOLE, July 27: Thirty-nine truckloads of grapes, tomatoes and pomegranates have been smuggled out of the Benapole Port evading Tk 14m (1 crore 40 lakh) revenue.
Customs authorities have suspended the licence of a C&F agent Royal Enterprise, a business firm of Rafiqul Islam Royel whose AIN No. is 601050013 for the evasion of revenue.
Customs sources said on the closing day on Saturday, 39 trucks of grapes, tomatoes and pomegranates were imported from India through Benapole port. C&F agent Royal Enterprise was in charge of delivering the consignments from the port.
Royal Enterprise delivered the 39 trucks of grapes, tomatoes and pomegranates without documents from the port's transshipment yard to avoid the customs officials.
However, Benapole Customs House Commissioner Azizur Rahman and Additional Commissioner Dr Neyamul Islam jointly forced the Royel Enterprise to pay the revenue.
The C&F agent later deposited the revenue money to government treasury on Monday.
The revenue has already been deposited with the Sonali Bank , Benapole Branch.
There are allegations that every Saturday, the day of weekly holiday, Royal Enterprise smuggles fruits under false declaration to befool customs officials. There are several revenue evasion allegations against him in the customs house.
Rafiqul Islam Royal, owner of Royal Enterprise, said, "My C&F agent licence has been cancelled by the customs authorities. However, the revenue of 39 truck-loads of goods has been paid within the next two days of delivery."

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