1,655 mobile phones hidden in fabric rolls seized at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport

Customs, intelligence agency and security agency officials have seized 1,655 expensive mobile phones after an attempt was detected to bring a large number of mobile phones inside fabric rolls by declaring import of garments fabric. The seizure was made during a drive in the import cargo area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

A consignment was searched in the import cargo area of the airport on the basis of intelligence information on Tuesday (September 8). The airway bill number of the consignment brought through FF Cargo is 828-56782412. Members of customs, customs intelligence, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and concerned intelligence agencies took part in the drive.

At one stage of the search the officials became suspicious about the imported fabric rolls. Later when the rolls were opened and examined mobile phones carefully hidden inside the cloth were found. After counting it was confirmed that there were a total of 1,655 mobile phones there.

Concerned sources said the consignment arrived in Bangladesh from Hong Kong on Hong Kong Air Cargo’s RH-6651 flight on August 31. Garments fabric had been declared as the goods in the consignment from the importer’s side. However the matter of bringing mobile phones hidden behind the declaration was detected in the search.

Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, additional commissioner of Dhaka Customs House, confirmed the matter and said although garments fabric was declared to be in the consignment, 1,655 expensive mobile phones were found from inside the fabric rolls. Later those were seized.

Customs officials are saying that the fixed duties, taxes and other rules and regulations have to be followed in the case of importing mobile phones. But whether there was an attempt to evade duties and taxes in the incident of bringing mobile phones behind the declared goods is being examined. At the same time the persons involved with the consignment, the possible destination of the goods and whether any consignment was cleared earlier in the same technique are also being investigated.

After verifying the brand, model and market value of the seized phones the actual financial value of the consignment and the possible amount of duty-tax evasion will be known. Concerned authorities have said legal action will be taken in this incident after verifying the role of the concerned importer and the persons involved with the cargo activities.