By Mitoon Chowdhury in bdnews24.com, Mar 8, 2017
Chittagong:Bangladesh Customs Intelligence suspects that an inter-continental crime ring is active in Chittagong port and out to use the port for their criminal activities.
Their suspicion came after they seized liquid cocaine laced in sunflower oil, the huge amount of counterfeit Indian rupees and, of late 12 containers full of smuggled liquors and cigarettes at the main port of the country.
The 12 containers of smuggled items which were seized this week worth around Tk 1.34 billion.
Television sets and photocopiers were also found inside the containers imported with the false declaration.
“Transnational crime groups or inter-continental crime rings are believed to be involved in the criminal activities,” DG of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Moinul Khan told bdnews24.com.
“Someone might have invested in such a massive smuggling. Crime ring or the group involved in sabotage might be behind this big consignment,” he said.
“Based on intelligence analysis we can say the saboteurs are usually involved in smuggling cigarettes and liquors,” he added.
The Customs Intelligence failed to identify and locate the companies whose names are used in importing 12 containers, but their records showed that 71 containers were cleared from the port on their names. The officials are now investigating the matter.
“How those 71 containers were released from the port? What were the items imported? Were those containers scanned properly? These are the questions we are trying to find answers for. We already have gathered information about it,” Moinul added.
The containers came via the Singapore port but the Chinese company name used for the consignment was found to be non-existent in our investigation, he also said.
“It’s not possible for a single importer to bring in such huge quantity of goods. There must be a gang involved in it – an inter-continental ring. They are involved in smuggling and planning for some other criminal activities,” the DG added.
AFM Abdullah, Customs Commissioner in Chittagong port, said that since the seizure of 12 containers, he ordered to scan all the zero-tariff investment machinery coming from Singapore or Dubai port.
“The problem originates from there, so I have asked for through checks of those consignments,” he said adding “many parties like customs, bank, port authorities, shipping and freight agent, are involved in clearing the imported items from the port.”
“We must find out who is involved in it. We won’t allow anyone to use our port in illegal or criminal activities,” Abdullah added.
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/03/08/customs-intelligence-suspects-inter-continental-crime-ring-active-in-chittagong-port
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