Customs Intelligence Uncovers Major Import Undervaluation

Bangla Press Desk:  The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has detected massive undervaluation, excess goods, and misdeclaration in two separate airfreight consignments imported by the same importer through the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

A press statement from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Tuesday revealed this.

The consignments contained a total of 1,167 laptops and 100 tablets/iPads, while their declared value was only $5,500.

Following physical examination and assessment, the value was revised to $167,786, equivalent to around Tk 20.7 million.

The assessed value is about 30.5 times higher than the declared figure, according to documents related to the consignments.

The importer is Sardar Global Trade (BIN: 009113645-0111), while FAHIM 5 STAR LTD acted as the C&F agent.

The first consignment, covered by AWB No 997-66890751 and Bill of Entry (B/E) No 821186, dated August 13, had a declared value of only $3,500.

Following physical examination and valuation, its assessed value was raised to $103,527, equivalent to Tk 12.8 million.

The examination found 543 HP Core i5 laptops, 187 HP Core i3 laptops, and another 10 HP Core i5 laptops that had reportedly been declared as Mini PCs.

The consignment also contained 55 tablets and five iPads.

Thus, the first consignment contained 740 laptops and 60 tablets/iPads.

The examination report also identified 43 additional laptops beyond the declared quantity.

The second consignment, covered by AWB No 997-60500451 and B/E No 821108, also dated August 13, had a declared value of just $2,000.

Its assessed value was subsequently revised to $64,259, equivalent to around Tk 7.9 million.

A physical examination found 46 Core i3 laptops and 381 Core i5 laptops, totalling 427 laptops, along with 35 tablets and five iPads.

The examination report identified 39 additional laptops compared with the declared quantity.

The two consignments together therefore contained 1,167 laptops and 100 tablets/iPads, apart from a substantial quantity of automobile parts and other goods.

Customs intelligence officials also found that a significant number of the laptops appeared to be used based on their external condition.

The examination reports described the goods as "could be used as per external appearance".

Such used laptops, if confirmed as used goods, may fall under import restrictions under the applicable Import Policy Order.

The examination also found discrepancies in the description and classification of several goods.

Items declared as capacitors, rubber seal O-rings, rubber gaskets, and fittings were identified during examination as car parts, prompting changes in the applicable HS codes.

Acting on intelligence information, CIID suspended the clearance process of the two consignments on August 13. Physical examination was subsequently conducted on August 23 in the presence of a representative of the C&F agent.

The customs authorities suspect false declaration, substantial undervaluation, excess goods, concealment of the actual description of imported goods, and import of prohibited used products.

Legal proceedings are now underway under the Customs Act 2023 and the applicable Import Policy Order, officials said.

CIID said it would continue intelligence-led operations and surveillance to prevent false declarations, customs duty and tax evasion, and the import of prohibited goods through the country's ports and airports.