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Customs officials have seized a covered van loaded with undeclared goods at Benapole Land Port in Jashore after detecting an alleged attempt to evade around Tk 5.5 million in government revenue.
The seizure was made on Sunday night in front of Shed No. 14 following a tip-off received by the Intelligence, Research and Monitoring (IRM) team of Benapole Customs House.
According to customs sources, Dhaka-based importer Red Green International imported 500kg of butter flavour in 25 packages from India.
Ahad Enterprise, a clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent based in Benapole, was responsible for clearing the consignment.
An initial physical inspection reportedly found the goods consistent with the declaration, and customs assessment was completed based on the inspection report.
However, acting on confidential information that additional undeclared goods were being cleared alongside the declared flavour consignment, customs officials intercepted a covered van bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-Ta-13-6541.
After the vehicle was opened in the presence of the C&F agent, driver and port workers, officials found 67 packages containing various goods.
The seized items included 500kg of flavour in 25 plastic jars, 194,000 disposable syringes in 25 cartons, 110.77kg of imitation jewellery in two cartons, 303 sarees, 14 ornas, 10 kameez, nine salwar, 38 three-piece outfits, 179 T-shirts, 122 trousers and 200kg of powder in eight drums.
Customs officials said the undeclared goods had earlier been loaded onto the van at Shed No. 12 of the port.
The consignment was suspected of causing a revenue loss of around Tk 5.5 million.
Customs authorities also said the licence of Ahad Enterprise had been permanently cancelled over allegations that the company had long been involved in revenue evasion through an organised syndicate.
Benapole Customs House Commissioner Faizur Rahman said the van was intercepted based on confidential information and that the undeclared goods had been seized.
He confirmed that the suspected revenue evasion involving the consignment amounted to approximately Tk 5.5 million.