Photo : Messenger
The Directorate of Customs Intelligence has successfully intercepted attempts to export rice by falsely declaring it as cakes or vermicelli or biscuits. Additionally, there has been a recent government decision to once again halt the export of aromatic rice.
Previously, shipments destined for America were cleared for export via the Chittagong sea route under the supervision of the ICD Custom House. Customs officers physically inspected the consignments and issued reports affirming their compliance.
In the manual report, officials of the ICD Custom House recommended permission for exporting the consignment of goods to America. However, a troubling revelation has emerged from the investigation conducted by customs detectives. The investigation report suggests a potential link to money laundering abroad under the guise of exports. Furthermore, it is alleged that prohibited goods were being smuggled to the United States under the cover of export, purportedly on behalf of the Additional Director General of Customs Intelligence.
Saifur Rahman, acting on behalf of customs intelligence, has urged the Commissioner of the ICD Custom House to initiate criminal proceedings and take legal action against exporter Raj Kamal's Everbest and their C&F agents.
According to sources within customs intelligence, exporter Raj Kamal Everbest Corporation shipped a consignment of goods to the US through the ICD Custom House. The consignment initially cleared from the ICD Custom House to Chittagong Port on January 24 of this year following a physical inspection. However, a subsequent 100% manual inspection conducted by customs detectives on February 19 revealed discrepancies indicating that the initial physical examination at the ICD Custom House was inaccurate.
According to the customs intelligence report, it was discovered that the exported goods' quantity was significantly less than what was declared, with a discrepancy of 6662.2 kg. Exporter Raj Kamal Everbest Corporation had declared 7,380 kg of Kataribhog rice along with other products such as cakes, vermicelli, and biscuits. This discrepancy constitutes a clear violation of the Export Policy 2021-24.
Furthermore, such actions fall under the purview of smuggling as defined in Section 2(S) of the Customs Act, 1969, and are punishable under Section 32 of the same act. Additionally, these activities may also constitute offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2015, due to the potential involvement of illicit funds or financial transactions associated with the export discrepancies.
The report further highlights that exporters including BK Gri Toast, BK Plain Toast, Brekas Cake Rust, Brekas Premier Gri Toast, Brekas Muri Toast, Brekas Special Toast, Brekas Sweet Toast, Brekas Tea Toast, Raj Kamal Pace, Raj Kamal Lachcha Semai, and Nanna attempted to export various goods to America, advertising items such as Red Faffed Raisin, Raj Kamal Raisin Flour, Raj Kamal Basil, Raj Kamal Mustard Oil, and Raj Kamal Wheat.
However, upon inspection of the consignment of goods, it was discovered that 7380 kg of undeclared and export-prohibited Kataribhog rice was concealed within the shipment. This discovery indicates a deliberate attempt to circumvent export regulations and engage in illicit activities.
It has been revealed that Customs Intelligence suspended the exportation of the consignment and scheduled a manual inspection for February 7 of this year. Despite repeated notifications to the C&F agent Liton Trade International for a physical inspection, the agent caused delays. Subsequently, customs detectives conducted a physical examination of the consignment in the presence of various agencies. As a consequence, the customs detectives have expressed their intention to take action against the C&F agent under the provisions of the Customs Act for their role in the delays and potential irregularities associated with the consignment.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that the product consignment underwent manual inspection by officials at the ICD Custom House on January 24 of this year. The physical verification was conducted with the signatures of revenue officer Kazi Akhtaruzzaman and an assistant revenue officer. According to the results of the physical examination, the total gross weight of the consignment of goods was recorded as 16,686.30 kg, with a net weight of 15,391.20 kg.
Moreover, in accordance with the submitted invoice and packaging list, as well as the presence of the C&F representative Nazim Howladar, the consignment of goods was verified and found to align correctly with the provided documentation. As a result, it was determined that the consignment could be cleared for export to America from ICD Kamalapur via the Chittagong sea port.
The investigation conducted by customs detectives has brought to light discrepancies regarding the inclusion of Kataribhog rice in the consignment. While the physical report from ICD Kamalapur House did not mention the presence of Kataribhog rice, the manual report prepared by the customs detective revealed that 7380 kg of Kataribhog rice was indeed present in the consignment, despite being undeclared and prohibited for export.
In response to this inconsistency, the customs detective has initiated inquiries with the inspection officials of the ICD Custom House, seeking an explanation for the omission of the Kataribhog rice from their physical report.
The report further reveals that subsequent to the suspension of the consignment by customs intelligence, the exporter submitted an application to this office. In this application, the exporter claimed that instead of the erroneously declared invoice, goods from another company, Raj Kamal Khamar Bari Ltd., were loaded for shipment from the invoiced store.
However, upon further investigation, an email was sent to Islami Bank requesting verification of the authenticity of the commercial invoice submitted by this organisation. The response from the bank authority, received via email, stated that they had no record of any activities with the organisation associated with the submitted invoice.
Minhaj Uddin, Additional Director General of the Directorate of Customs Intelligence Investigation, has stated, "We had suspicions regarding a container potentially being used for smuggling, we have conducted a physical examination again." Subsequently, the exporting company and C&F agent were duly informed about this decision. However, there are suspicions that they did not respond to the notification.
Later, when the container was opened for physical examination, anomalies were indeed discovered.
Minhaj Uddin further emphasised that the detected discrepancies are indicative of potential fraud and even money laundering attempts. In response to these serious allegations, decisive action is being taken against not only the concerned ICD officers but also the exporters and C&F agents involved in the suspicious activities.
Messenger/Fameema
