Customs seizes containers for inflated export value
Bangla Foodstuff and Beverage Ltd tried to export an individual tonne of foods instead of 22 tonnes declared to say higher funds incentives from the federal government against foreign sales, said the Chattogram Customs Property.
The exporter claimed $100,000 as export proceeds from the shipment. The customs stated the shipment's value will be much lower.
"We've seized the container. We've also filed funds laundering and criminal conditions against the business," said Rezaul Karim, assistant commissioner of the Customs.
The export consignments were likely to contain 545 boxes of food items, including puffed rice, biscuits, tomato crackers and spices however the customs found it to be practically empty, he said.
The official said the business would have got a motivation of around Tk 8.5 lakh had it been successful in transport the container.
The exporter also could have received the possibility to launder the black funds equal to the number of inflated figure displayed in the export files, he added.
According to customs documents, two consignments were staying taken to the slot jetty from the personal depot -- Eastern Logistics -- about Tuesday evening for shipping.
Earlier, the weight level officials and the concerned customs officials accredited that the amounts were correct.
Clearing and forwarding agent R Islam Firm brought the two containers of things to Eastern Logistics Depot in Patenga about December 21.
Custom officials are actually investigating the export of Tk 24 crore through 48 consignments that Bangla Meals and Beverage shipped between January 2019 and December 2020.
Most of the consignments were delivered to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Customs suspect that the same forgery happened in those consignments, officials explained.
"We happen to be collecting all export info for the last two years and checking them," explained Karim, adding that the exporter received income incentives from the federal government misusing the center in the past.
Rafiqul Islam, the proprietor of R Islam Firm, cannot be reached for comments.
Monir Hossain, managing director of Bangla Food and Beverage, didn't receive calls.
The government shells out almost Tk 4,500 crore each year to supply incentives to exporters.
A portion of dishonest businesses abuses the power by showing inflated export earnings. Various express organisations, such as the Comptroller and Auditor General had earlier found such misuse.
