Customs Seizes Undeclared Laptops and Tablets at Dhaka Airport
Customs intelligence has intercepted two massive shipments of laptops, tablets, and iPads at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The goods were imported with false declarations and heavily undervalued.
The Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has intercepted a massive consignment of electronic devices at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The operation successfully targeted two separate shipments containing a large quantity of laptops, tablets, and iPads that were brought into the country under suspicious circumstances.
According to the verified details of the operation, the imports were handled by Sardar Global Trade as the importing company, while Fahim 5 Star Limited acted as the Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agent for the consignments. The authorities intervened after detecting significant discrepancies between the declared value of the goods and their actual market assessment.
The importer had initially declared the total value of the shipments to be a mere 5,500 US dollars. However, upon detailed inspection and official evaluation, the actual assessed value of the imported electronics was determined to be a staggering 167,786 US dollars, which translates to approximately 2 crore 7 lakh 21 thousand 570 Bangladeshi Taka.
The enforcement action unfolded across two specific phases involving distinct consignments. The clearance process for the first shipment was officially suspended on August 13, followed by a thorough physical examination conducted a few days later on August 23 at the airport facilities.
A physical examination of the intercepted cargo revealed a massive volume of electronics. The first shipment contained 740 laptops alongside 60 units combining tablets and iPads. Meanwhile, the second shipment was found to hold an additional 427 laptops, 35 tablets, and 5 iPads, bringing the total tally to 1,167 laptops and 100 units of tablets and iPads across both consignments.
Breaking down the financial evaluations provided by the authorities, the assessed value of the first shipment alone stood at 103,527 US dollars, equivalent to 1 crore 27 lakh 85 thousand 584 Taka. The second shipment was evaluated at 64,259 US dollars, amounting to 79 lakh 35 thousand 986 Taka. Furthermore, the physical inspection revealed that a notable number of the imported laptops appeared to be used devices, which directly violates import policy orders and renders them strictly prohibited for importation.
