Dhaka: Customs intelligence officials have detected false declarations, significant quantity discrepancies, and gross undervaluation in two consignments imported by the same company through the airfreight unit of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the consignments, imported by Sardar Global Trade with Fahim 5 Star Ltd as the C and F agent, contained a total of 1,167 laptops and 100 tablets and iPads, as reported by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
The two consignments had a combined declared value of only US$5,500, whereas their assessed value after physical examination was determined to be US$167,786, equivalent to Tk 2.07 crore. Officials discovered 543 HP Core i5 laptops, 187 HP Core i3 laptops, and 10 HP Core i5 laptops that had been declared as mini PCs. The consignment also included 55 tablets and five iPads, bringing the total number of laptops to 740 and tablets/iPads to 60. Additionally, the examination report identified 43 extra laptops beyond the declared quantity.
Acting on intelligence information, the CIID suspended the clearance of the two consignments on August 13. Physical examinations were subsequently conducted on August 23 in the presence of representatives of the C and F agent. Authorities are now pursuing legal action over alleged false declaration, gross undervaluation, excess quantities, concealment of the actual description of goods, and import of prohibited used products under the Customs Act, 2023, and relevant import policy orders.
The CIID emphasized that it would continue intelligence surveillance and operations to prevent false declarations, customs duty evasion, and the import of prohibited goods.