Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) Customs House has detected an attempt to evade Tk 9.54 crore in duties through the import of high-value facial cream falsely declared as vegetable fat from Pakistan.
Customs officials said clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent NM Traders submitted a bill of entry on behalf of Old Dhaka-based Sadaf Trading on November 2, declaring 5,000 packets (24,000 jars) of facial cream as vegetable fat.
Acting on intelligence, the customs commissioner halted the release process, and a physical examination was conducted on November 7 in the presence of depot authorities and representatives of the clearing and forwarding agent.
Earlier, on November 4, the Central Intelligence Cell sent a letter instructing the customs authority to detain the consignment.
The declaration listed Harmonised System (HS) Code 1516.20.0000, a consignment weight of 24,000 kg and a declared value of $1.1 per kg, which limited the payable duty to Tk 13.01 lakh.
The physical examination confirmed the entire consignment as facial cream. Under the correct Harmonised System Code 3304.99.10, the tariff value is $20 per kg with a total tax incidence of 162.55%, raising the actual duty to Tk 9.68 crore.
A sample was later sent to Khulna University of Engineering and Technology for chemical testing, where the product again tested positive as facial cream. Customs officials said legal action is being prepared, and show-cause notices have already been issued to the importer and its agent.
The Importer’s clearing and forwarding agent Md Rafiq told Times of Bangladesh, “There is no scope to go beyond what the chemical test proves. But this same product had earlier been assessed as vegetable fat based on Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) testing.”
The show-cause notice states that false declaration is an offence and punishable under the Customs Act.
It also asked why action should not be taken and why the importer’s Business Identification Number (BIN) should not be placed under surveillance, requiring a written reply within seven working days.
False declaration is treated as a serious offence under customs law and may carry penalties equal to the value of the goods, imprisonment, or both.
Kamalapur ICD Customs House Commissioner Nahida Faridy told Times of Bangladesh, “We remain vigilant against consignments brought under false declarations. Many shipments are placed under enhanced monitoring through risk-based screening. We are committed to protecting government revenue.”
She said show-cause notices have been issued to the importer and the agent, and further action will follow after their responses.
