False declaration Customs discovers whisky bottles, not prayer mats
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Doulot Akter Mala
Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue Tuesday unearthed substantial duty evasion at the Mongla port through false declaration of goods imported from Dubai.
A four-member team of the intelligence cell, with the cooperation of other law enforcing agencies, has seized two large containers, about 54 feet long, full of France-made wine, whisky and champagne.
This is for the first time the CIC has unearthed such large containers involving substantial revenue evasion, CIC chief Mohammad Alauddin told the FE.
"The importers have declared goods worth only $3537 (Tk 0.24 million) in those two containers, but we have found the value of the items imported 400 times higher than the declared value as they have imported about 24 thousand bottles of alcholic drink under the guise of cosmetics, toiletries and prayer mats," he said.
Local importing company Media Enterprise imported those goods through concealment of information to evade duty, he said.
"The government will impose fine and file cases against the corrupt importers and persons involved in the false declaration," he said.
The government allows import of liquors by a select group of importers. Only 70-71 importers are allowed to import the products under bonded warehouse facility, but selling of such products in local market is strictly prohibited.
The government slaps a heavy duty on liquors to discourage import of such commodities and luxury goods.
Importers have to pay 350 per cent supplementary duty (SD) apart from other customs duties and taxes for importing liquors.
Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue Tuesday unearthed substantial duty evasion at the Mongla port through false declaration of goods imported from Dubai.
A four-member team of the intelligence cell, with the cooperation of other law enforcing agencies, has seized two large containers, about 54 feet long, full of France-made wine, whisky and champagne.
This is for the first time the CIC has unearthed such large containers involving substantial revenue evasion, CIC chief Mohammad Alauddin told the FE.
"The importers have declared goods worth only $3537 (Tk 0.24 million) in those two containers, but we have found the value of the items imported 400 times higher than the declared value as they have imported about 24 thousand bottles of alcholic drink under the guise of cosmetics, toiletries and prayer mats," he said.
Local importing company Media Enterprise imported those goods through concealment of information to evade duty, he said.
"The government will impose fine and file cases against the corrupt importers and persons involved in the false declaration," he said.
The government allows import of liquors by a select group of importers. Only 70-71 importers are allowed to import the products under bonded warehouse facility, but selling of such products in local market is strictly prohibited.
The government slaps a heavy duty on liquors to discourage import of such commodities and luxury goods.
Importers have to pay 350 per cent supplementary duty (SD) apart from other customs duties and taxes for importing liquors.