Customs intelligence is investigating whether duty-free industrial chemicals were diverted to the open market after a bonded manufacturer failed to account for 45 tonnes of imported sodium hydrosulfite and a separate Narayanganj warehouse was found holding 81.6 tonnes of chemicals without supporting documents.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) sealed the warehouse of M R Traders in Tanbazar on Sunday after finding around 81.6 tonnes of chemicals and other raw materials, including sodium hydrosulfite.
According to CIID, M R Traders could not produce documents showing the legal purchase, import or storage of the goods during the inspection.
Investigators separately inspected SIM Fabrics Ltd as part of the same inquiry into suspected misuse of bonded warehouse facilities.
SIM Fabrics had imported 45 tonnes of sodium hydrosulfite from India duty-free under the bonded facility through Bill of Entry No. C-1293482 dated 17 October.
But the company could not produce the imported chemicals during the physical inspection, according to CIID.
Bonded manufacturers can import approved raw materials without paying normal customs duties and taxes on the condition that the materials are used for authorised production. Diverting such goods to the domestic market can deprive the government of revenue.
CIID is now examining whether the chemicals imported by SIM Fabrics were used in production or moved into the open market.
The investigation is also looking for any link between the 45 tonnes that SIM Fabrics could not account for and the much larger stock found at the non-bonded M R Traders warehouse.
Authorities have not established such a connection, and the investigation remains under way.
CIID said it is examining the origin of the seized chemicals, their import and purchase records, subsequent supply and sales transactions, possible misuse of bonded facilities and the amount of customs duty and tax that may have been evaded.
The case leaves investigators with two central questions: what happened to the 45 tonnes imported duty-free by SIM Fabrics, and where did the 81.6 tonnes stored at M R Traders come from?
