‘Gift’ cars draw customs scrutiny
Three luxury vehicles seized from a five-star hotel in Cox’s Bazar have come under customs scrutiny after the young men accompanying them claimed the cars were “gifts from their fathers” but failed to produce documents proving their lawful import or purchase.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate seized the vehicles from the parking area of Ocean Paradise Hotel on Friday afternoon as part of a probe into a suspected customs duty evasion scheme involving vehicle components allegedly imported as “used car parts” and later assembled into complete vehicles.
Additional Director General of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Rezvi Ahmed said the claim that the vehicles were gifts
would be verified against relevant documents.
The three vehicles were believed to be Japanese luxury models. Their seizure followed intelligence that several consignments arriving through Mongla Port had been declared as used car parts.
After examining the consignments, investigators suspected that the components could be assembled within a short period to form complete vehicles.
At a press briefing at Ocean Paradise Hotel, Rezvi said the investigation had uncovered a suspected method of evading customs duties by importing most of the components required to assemble complete vehicles while declaring them separately as parts.
Under international customs rules, duties can be assessed based on the “essential character” of imported goods, he said.
Importers allegedly exploited the provision by bringing in components that could effectively constitute complete vehicles while declaring them as separate parts.
Following the findings, customs authorities activated their intelligence network across the country.
Based on the intelligence, a complete BMW was seized from the parking area of a residential building in Chattogram on Thursday.
The person using the vehicle could not produce documents showing its lawful import or purchase, according to customs officials.
Investigators later learned that three similar vehicles had been taken to Cox’s Bazar and traced them to Ocean Paradise Hotel.
The individuals accompanying the vehicles initially claimed that the cars were “under registration”.
However, they failed to provide documents showing that registration applications had been submitted or produce other required paperwork.
Customs officials sought the documents again on Friday morning, but the individuals allegedly continued to delay.
The vehicles were subsequently seized in the afternoon after detention memos were issued in accordance with the law.
During questioning, the three men reportedly said they had received the vehicles as gifts from their fathers. Rezvi said the claim would be examined against relevant documents.
The authorities initially identified them as Mohammad Hasibur Rahman Sinha, associated with Dhaka Metro-G 34; Mohammad Safiat Mahmud, associated with Dhaka Metro-G 38; and Mohammad Sarafat Rahman Ishan, associated with Dhaka Metro-G 03.
Rezvi said investigators had collected their birth-registration and passport information, as well as CCTV footage from the hotel. He declined to disclose the identities of the vehicles’ actual owners at this stage.
The customs directorate is investigating how the vehicles entered Bangladesh, where they were assembled and what import procedures were followed.
“If irregularities are found in the import process, action will be taken under the law,” Rezvi said. If evidence of smuggling emerges, the authorities will pursue action under the relevant laws and investigate the wider network behind the operation.
The probe could also cover foreign-exchange violations and money laundering if the imports are found to be illegal. Possible intellectual-property violations would also be examined if evidence of vehicle-brand counterfeiting emerges.
Asked whether the owners of the seized vehicles were political leaders or government officials, Rezvi said determining an individual’s profession or political activities was not part of the customs intelligence investigation.
Regarding the value of the vehicles, he said the directorate was not yet in a position to determine their market prices.
BMW vehicles can cost around Tk80 lakh to Tk7 crore, depending on the model, while vehicles with engine capacities above 4,000cc fall under different customs-duty slabs.
For Japanese vehicles, valuation is conducted according to the “Yellow Book”, he said, adding that the seized vehicles initially appeared to be sports and luxury cars.
