NBR seizes undocumented alcohol in raid on Gulshan restaurant

A joint team of four intelligence agencies of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) seized a large quantity of alcohol and alcoholic beverages without valid documents during a raid on Kingfisher Restaurant Ltd in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.

The operation began at 12:30am on Sunday and continued for around three hours, following confidential information that highly dutiable goods, particularly alcohol, were being procured and sold by evading duties.

According to an NBR press release issued on Monday, the raid was conducted under the board’s directives and the overall supervision of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).

The participating agencies were the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), CIID, Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit (TIIU), and VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (VAIID). The Special Response Battalion (SRB-1) provided support during the operation.

The team aimed to identify alcohol stocks allegedly obtained through illegal sources or smuggling and prevent value-added tax (VAT) evasion on local sales.

The agencies also sought to verify whether the restaurant had properly declared its sales proceeds in income tax returns and examine possible links between the transactions and money laundering.

The operation was carried out under the Customs Act, 2023, the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016, and the Income Tax Act, 2023.

The NBR did not disclose the quantity or estimated value of the seized alcohol in its press release.