Ordered yarn, sand came

The Chattogram Customs found sand in place of polyester yarn in a consignment at the Chattogram port on Monday.

A Naraynaganj-based company named Sohara Fashion had declared the import of 100 percent polyester yarn from a Chinese importer Yameizhi Textile Co Limited.

Tansa Overseas, a clearing & forwarding agent, submitted a bill of entry on behalf of the importer company to the customs house to release the goods on January 22 this year.

On suspicion, the audit investigation and research unit locked the shipment. Later, while checking the unit officers discovered sand inside the container.

Assistant Commissioner of the unit Nur-e-Hasna Sanjida Anushua said: "We found sand inside the 40-foot long container. Sand was found previously in another container of the same company. Sand samples will be sent for chemical testing. We will later file a money laundering case under the customs act."

"This could be an act of fraud by the Chinese exporter. We have not paid them any money yet, so no instance of money laundering took place," said Legal adviser for Sohara Fashion Advocate Khan Azad.