Coffee creamer was imported by falsely declaring it as milk powder, allowing an importer to dodge more than Tk70 lakh in taxes, leading customs to file a case at the Inland Container Depot Kamalapur on Wednesday.
Importer Sino Giant Limited brought the consignment from China, declaring it as modified starch or milk powder, officials said. A physical inspection later found the entire 27,750 kilogram shipment to be coffee creamer.
The bill of entry showed the product under Harmonised System code 3505.10.00 at $0.55 per kilogram, with a 52% tariff indicator. Customs initially assessed the duty at Tk9,96,353.72.
Customs officials flagged the shipment after noticing its colour and aroma. Samples were sent for laboratory analysis to the Department of Chemistry Dhaka University and Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, officials said.
Two of the three laboratory reports confirmed the product as coffee creamer, establishing a false declaration.
Customs then revised the classification under Harmonised System code 2106.90.90 at $2.50 per kilogram, with a 93.16% tariff indicator. The revised duty rose to Tk 80,81,645.81, revealing tax evasion worth Tk70,85,293.09.
C&F agent Four Star Trading Company filed the bill of entry for clearance.
“This is not only a revenue loss but a direct violation of import regulations. Legal action will be taken against those involved,” said ICD Kamalapur Customs Commissioner Nahida Faridy.
“We work as the agent of the importer. If they import using false declarations, we are helpless,” said Four Star Trading Company owner Md Abdul Karim.
False declaration is a punishable offence under Section 33 of the Customs Act 2023, customs officials said.
