CHATTOGRAM: Customs intelligence officials have seized a luxury BMW in Chattogram while investigating allegations that complete high-end vehicles were cut into several large sections and imported into Bangladesh as used car parts to evade customs duties.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) said its preliminary investigation had found evidence supporting allegations of false declaration, duty evasion, smuggling and document forgery.
Sources said the agency uncovered the alleged import method after receiving intelligence on the use of Semi Knocked Down (SKD) consignments to bring luxury vehicles into the country while disguising them as used car parts.
According to Rezvi Ahmed, Additional Director General of the CIID Chattogram regional office, acting on the intelligence, a CIID team from its Chattogram regional office raided Sattar Manzil (BTI Building) on KB Abdus Sattar Road in Rahmatganj at around 12:50 pm on Wednesday and seized a BMW bearing registration number Chattogram Metro-G-11-3651.
According to CIID, the vehicle is suspected to have been brought into the country through false declaration, duty evasion, smuggling or document forgery.
The seizure came as customs intelligence officials were investigating the alleged practice of importing complete luxury vehicles in only three to four large sections and declaring them as used car parts.
During the operation, CIID officials questioned Sultana Farhana Jahan, wife of the vehicle's current owner, Mohammad Ayub, who is currently abroad.
Officials asked her to produce documents relating to the purchase and import of the BMW. However, she was unable to provide any such documents. CIID and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials subsequently asked several times for the vehicle's keys, but the owner's family refused to hand them over.
