Customs detect bid to import 4 luxury cars as used parts

Castoms detected four luxury cars imported declaring those as used parts. UNP

Customs intelligence officials have uncovered an attempt to import four luxury cars into Bangladesh by declaring their major components separately as ‘used car parts’ and cutting the vehicles into three to four large sections for shipment.

The four vehicles, identified as a Range Rover Vogue, BMW 650i, Lexus LX570 and Toyota Crown Athlete, have an estimated combined market value of around Tk 4.50 crore to Tk 6.70 crore or more, according to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) findings.

The shipment was imported by Crown Auto Mobile Services of Gandaria in Dhaka from Mahi Car Port of Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan.

The consignment contained 164 packages under 14 declared items, with a total declared weight of around 10,220 kg.

The importer declared items including used doors, a 2,000cc petrol engine fitted with gear assembly, suspension shock absorbers, nose cuts, headlights, tail lights, fenders, cabin, steering wheel, bumpers, air cleaner boxes, rubber channels, differential and axle assemblies.

Acting on a confidential tip-off, CIID’s regional office in Khulna and its Mongla circle suspended the clearance process and conducted a 100 percent physical examination of the consignment on July 19.

With technical assistance from experts from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), investigators examined stickers, labels, markings and identification numbers attached to or engraved on different parts of the vehicles.

Artificial intelligence was also used to help identify the vehicles.

The examination found front cuts, complete rear or tail cuts, front and rear body cuts and roof-cut panel assemblies, with wiring harnesses, sensors and other important components still attached.

The entire consignment had an invoice value of only US$7,935. At the declared exchange rate of Tk 122.7433 per US dollar, along with other expenses of Tk 19,577.56, the assessable value was shown at around Tk 9.94 lakh.

The declared customs duties and taxes amounted to Tk 6.07 lakh, while the total payable amount, including DF, CVAT and FP, was shown as Tk 6.10 lakh.

CIID said the exact amount of potential revenue evasion has not yet been determined.

The amount would depend on the assessment of the vehicles as SKD motor vehicles rather than separate used parts, taking into account their actual value, engine capacity, age, depreciation and applicable tariff values and taxes.

CIID said it would continue intelligence-led operations against false declarations, concealment of the actual nature of imported goods, customs duty evasion and attempts to import motor vehicles in SKD or CKD form under the guise of spare parts. - UNB