The National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), in collaboration with Chattogram Customs House, has uncovered eight major cases of customs duty evasion involving the misdeclaration of imported goods, with estimated revenue losses totalling around Tk7.03 crore.
The investigations revealed that importers declared low-duty goods, including agricultural power sprayer machines, toothpicks, heat-transfer paper, rubber bushes and stainless steel circles, while allegedly importing high-duty cosmetics, prohibited creams, automotive parts, PVC flex banners, nuts, bolts and bearings from China, Pakistan and Thailand.
The CIC and the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) team of Chattogram Customs House detected the irregularities through intelligence-led inspections of containers at Chattogram port, according to an NBR press release issued here today (17 October).
The authorities have finalised the process of taking legal action against the importers and their associated clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents under Sections 33 and 171 of the Customs Act, 2023, the release said.
Misdeclaration of power sprayer machinery
In the first case, Fortune Global Trading of Dhaka's New Market declared 11,956 kilograms of agricultural power sprayer machines imported from China under Bill of Entry No. C-1203065.
A physical inspection found stage lights, face creams, sun creams, toothpaste, peeling gels, serums, LED lights, sunglasses and black hair shampoo instead of the declared machinery.
The consignment also contained around 1,817 kilograms of goods beyond the declared weight. The estimated revenue evasion in the case stands at Tk2.5 crore, according to the NBR release.
Prohibited cosmetics hidden in a toothpick consignment
In another case, Kaf Corporation of Chawkbazar in Old Dhaka declared the import of 22.5 tonnes of toothpicks from China under Bill of Entry No. C-1098766.
Customs officials found only 1,620 kilograms of toothpicks. The remaining cargo reportedly included Pakistan-made Gori Beauty Cream, face creams, sun creams, anti-ageing gels, hair-removal sprays, premium sunglasses and a sexual-performance delay spray.
The consignment included creams prohibited by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), it said.
The estimated revenue evasion in this case amounts to Tk2.8 crore.
High-value automotive parts concealed as rubber bushes
HR Enterprise of Dhaka declared 16,040 kilograms of engine rubber bushes imported from Thailand under Bill of Entry No. C-1216730.
However, the inspection found only 6,625 kilograms of rubber bushes. The remaining goods included engine mountings, suspension bushes, arm bushes, centre bearings, spring shackles and steering components.
The NBR said the importer attempted to evade duties by misdeclaring the goods and bringing in additional quantities. The estimated revenue loss stands at Tk 44 lakh.
The authorities also thwarted an alleged attempt by the same importer to change the Harmonised System (HS) code without the commissioner's prior approval in another consignment under Bill of Entry No. C-1234267.
PVC flex banners declared as heat-transfer paper
New Trust Traders declared 23,618 kilograms of heat-transfer paper imported from China under Bill of Entry No. C-1054001.
A physical examination found only 3,160 kilograms of paper, while the remaining cargo reportedly included around 21,467 kilograms of undeclared, high-duty PVC flex banners.
The estimated revenue evasion in the case amounts to Tk40 lakh.
Nuts, bolts and bearings concealed in industrial consignments
Customs officials also detected two cases involving the alleged misdeclaration of industrial goods by New Rony Enterprise of Bangshal and Mohammadia Trade of Wari in Dhaka.
Mohammadia Trade declared stainless steel circles and excavator gears under Bill of Entry No. C-1237019. Inspectors found only around 3.8 tonnes of the declared goods, alongside 22,113 kilograms of undeclared nuts, bolts and screws.
The estimated revenue evasion stands at Tk32 lakh.
In a separate consignment, New Rony Enterprise allegedly imported 17,592 kilograms of nuts and bolts, 2,787 kilograms of heavy rolling bearings and 2,336 kilograms of gas-lift cylinders for revolving chairs through misdeclaration.
The estimated revenue loss in this case amounts to Tk42 lakh, the release said.
Attempt to remove a locked container using a forged seal
In a separate incident involving another consignment of Kaf Corporation, the authorities detected an alleged attempt to remove a container by replacing its original seal and falsifying documents.
The container, which had been placed in the Yellow Lane category, was subsequently locked in the ASYCUDA World customs system following specific intelligence about possible duty evasion.
According to the NBR, representatives of the C&F agent allegedly arranged to remove the container from the port area before the scheduled physical examination on 19 September 2026. They allegedly broke the original seal recorded in the bill of lading and replaced it with another seal bearing number SGT596953.
Document verification also revealed alleged forgery of the signatures of transferred officials as part of the attempted removal, the release added.
After detecting the irregularities, customs officials placed the container under strict security custody and seized it.
Strict action against revenue evasion
The NBR said customs authorities had adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards organised revenue evasion and would take stringent legal action against those involved.
Senior officials of Chattogram Customs House and NBR intelligence officials said digital risk-management systems and intelligence-led surveillance had helped uncover the alleged fraud.
They also stressed the need to protect domestic industries and safeguard government revenue through strict enforcement of customs laws.