Pakistani Tobacco Worth Tk 5 Billion Seized at Chattogram Port Over Tk 210 Million in Alleged Tax Evasion

Chittagong Bureau

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department has seized a huge consignment of 150 tons of raw tobacco imported from Pakistan at Chittagong Port.

There have been allegations of an attempt to evade revenue of about 21.12 crore taka by understating the value of the goods in the import documents. The potential market value of the cigarettes produced from this tobacco, brought in 10 containers, is about 494 crore taka.

This information was confirmed by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department on Thursday, October 29th.

Sources said that Global Leaf Tobacco Company Limited imported this consignment of tobacco from Pakistan under the bond facility.

However, while verifying the import documents, customs detectives found that the import price of raw tobacco per kilogram was only $1.45, while the conventional customs value of products with the same HS code was $5.10 per kilogram.

The shipment was seized after this unusual difference between the declared value and the prevailing customs value was detected.

According to preliminary estimates by customs intelligence, this price discrepancy has created a revenue risk of approximately Tk 21.2 crore.

According to the authorities’ calculations, it is possible to produce about 214.3 million sticks of premium cigarettes from the 150 tons of raw tobacco seized. The potential retail market value of these cigarettes is about 494 million taka.

However, the customs authorities have clarified that this figure of around 5 billion taka is not the direct import value, but rather the estimated market value of cigarettes to be produced from this tobacco.

Meanwhile, strict scrutiny by customs has also begun on the proper use of this tobacco brought under bond facilities.

According to the rules, raw materials imported under the bond facility are supposed to be used only for production purposes under certain conditions. However, if there is a discrepancy between the exact quantity of imported tobacco, the number of cigarettes produced, and the marketing information, it could open the way for major customs evasion, detectives fear.

Confirming the truth of the incident, Assistant Director of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department, Sakib Raihan, said that the discrepancy in the import price of the consignment and possible revenue risks are being investigated.

A press conference has been organized at the Customs Office at 4 pm today to provide details on this matter.

According to those concerned, final legal action will be taken in this regard after a thorough verification of the actual import value of the consignment, applicable duties and taxes, and whether the bond facility has been misused.