Goods imported for evading Tk80 lakh tax seized

Chattogram customs officials today seized a consignment of energy drinks and chocolate wafers imported under a false declaration by Star Alliance in a bid to evade taxes of Tk80 lakh.

In the declaration, the company said it was importing kidney beans and sweet corns from China.

Star Alliance of north Badda in Dhaka imported the consignment on December 23 last year. Clearing and forwarding agent Elite Enterprise submitted a bill of entry to release the goods from the customs on January 17 this year.

However, the agent was delaying the release of the goods. On suspicion, the customs kept the consignment under surveillance.

After a year, the Audit, Investigation and Research unit of Chattogram Customs House physically inspected the container and found 16 metric tonnes of energy drinks and chocolate wafers that were not mentioned in the declaration.

Besides, the customs found only five kilogrammes of sweet corns while the company mentioned 13 metric tonnes in the declaration. Moreover, kidney beans were not found in the shipment.  

"The company tried to evade taxes of Tk80 lakh by making the false declaration," said Nur Uddin Milon, deputy commissioner of the Audit, Investigation and Research unit.

"The declaration said the price of the imported products was Tk7 lakh while products worth Tk1 crore was found. Also, most of the products were expired," he said.