The seized vehicles are a Toyota Supra, a Honda Civic and a Mazda MX-5.

A team from the Chattogram Regional Office of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) conducted the operation based on a tip-off on the night of August 27 at the Ocean Paradise Hotel and Resort area on Kolatoli Road in Cox’s Bazar.

According to CIID officials, preliminary information suggested that the vehicles may have been brought into Bangladesh by declaring them as parts rather than complete vehicles and subsequently assembled locally.

During the operation, officials noticed that the vehicles were carrying markings reading “SINH4”, “S4FIAT” and “ESH4H” instead of conventional registration number plates.

The vehicles were seized under Section 191 of the Customs Act, 2023, pending verification of their import documents, ownership, customs declarations, payment of duties and taxes, and the legality of their local assembly.

Customs officials are examining whether the actual nature of the imported goods was concealed through parts declarations and whether any false or incorrect information was provided to the customs authorities.

The investigation will also determine whether the process resulted in the evasion of applicable customs duties and taxes. Officials will examine the Bills of Entry, declared descriptions, HS Codes, declared values, duty and tax payment records, VIN and chassis numbers, importers and other relevant documents.

Investigators will also seek to establish how the individual vehicle components entered the country and where and how they were subsequently assembled into complete vehicles.

Five individuals have so far been identified during the preliminary inquiry as being associated with the vehicles. They are Hasibur Rahman Sinha of Cox’s Bazar, Azmain Raihan of Gazipur, Nakibul Hasan of Dhaka, Sharafat Rahman of Gazipur and Sifiyat Mahmud of Dhaka.

However, CIID officials said the nature of their involvement, including ownership, use, importation and any role in the alleged local assembly, is still being investigated. No allegation against the individuals has been established as a final finding at this stage.

The authorities are also examining whether the case involves inaccurate declarations, submission of false information or documents, underpayment of customs duties or any other violation of the Customs Act, 2023.

If the investigation establishes evidence of smuggling or other customs offences, relevant provisions of the Customs Act may be invoked, potentially leading to penalties and confiscation of the vehicles.

The CIID investigation is now underway to determine the exact import trail, ownership, customs liability and legality of the three vehicles.

According to CIID sources, the vehicle was seized during an operation conducted today based on information received by the agency. Preliminary findings suggest that the BMW was not imported as a complete vehicle but was brought into Chattogram from Dubai in separate parts.

The parts were allegedly cleared through Chattogram Port and subsequently taken to an area in Kaptai/Chandraghona, where they were assembled. The vehicle was later taken to an automobile garage named ‘Auto Shop Fast Repair’ in Muradpur, Chattogram, where the remaining work was allegedly completed before it was put on the road as a fully assembled BMW.

Preliminary information indicates that the vehicle is a 2014-model BMW. After being locally assembled, it was allegedly operated using the registration number of an older BMW. The registration number reportedly used was Chattogram Metro-Gha-11-3651.

According to the allegations, the vehicle was later kept in the parking area of a building in the Rahmatganj area of Chattogram.

CIID has also received allegations of the involvement of a person named Mohammad Ayub in the importation and local assembly of the vehicle. According to the complainant, Ayub and his associates were involved in sending the vehicle parts from Dubai, clearing them through Chattogram Port and arranging their local assembly.

However, the allegations are yet to be conclusively established. CIID is examining the relevant documents and evidence as part of its investigation.

The investigation is expected to include scrutiny of the vehicle’s Bill of Entry, Invoice, Packing List, Shipping Documents, Chassis/VIN, declared value, description of the imported goods and customs duties and taxes paid.

Investigators will also examine whether the items declared and imported as vehicle parts were subsequently assembled locally into a complete automobile, potentially in violation of applicable customs and import regulations.

The vehicle’s actual Chassis/VIN number and registration records will also be verified. If the vehicle was indeed operated using the registration number of another BMW, investigators will examine whether there are discrepancies between its actual identity and the registration documents.

The complainant has also claimed to possess photographs and videos related to the alleged assembly process. CCTV footage, garage records and other relevant evidence may also be examined to establish where and how the vehicle was assembled.

The CIID seizure is being viewed as a significant step in investigating allegations involving the importation of a luxury vehicle under the guise of parts, its subsequent local assembly and the alleged use of another vehicle’s registration number.

According to reports published by various media outlets, tens of thousands of expatriate Bangladeshis have allegedly fallen victim to different forms of fraud in recent years. Against this backdrop, allegations have emerged against a group accused of targeting expatriates with lucrative business offers and promises of extraordinary financial returns.

Syed Raju, a Bangladeshi expatriate living in the United States, has alleged that a man named Mizanur Rahman, who introduced himself as a businessman, took nearly Tk 4 crore from him after promising to make him the owner of assets worth several hundred crores through lucrative business opportunities.

Raju further alleged that Mizanur Rahman, along with his brother Mashiur Rahman and other members of an organised group, has targeted expatriate Bangladeshis and collected crores of taka from them through various business-related promises.

Another alleged victim, Niaz Morshed of Shariatpur, claimed that Mizanur Rahman and his brother took Tk 70 lakh from him on the pretext of investing in a business.

According to Morshed, when he subsequently sought the return of his money, he was allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation.

A Dubai-based expatriate, identified as Badhon, has also alleged that the same group took Tk 30 lakh from him after making business-related promises.

The allegations have raised concerns about the vulnerability of expatriate Bangladeshis, many of whom invest their hard-earned money in the country based on business proposals and personal assurances.

The complainants claimed that the alleged transactions involved substantial sums of money and that they have faced difficulties recovering their funds.

Attempts were made several times to contact Mizanur Rahman and his brother Mashiur Rahman by mobile phone for their comments on the allegations. However, they could not be reached.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and no court finding establishing wrongdoing by the accused has been identified in connection with the claims.

Analysts say the state has a responsibility to protect expatriate Bangladeshis, whose remittances constitute an important pillar of the national economy. They also emphasise the need for stronger mechanisms to prevent financial fraud targeting expatriates and to ensure that legitimate complaints are investigated promptly.

The complainants are seeking appropriate legal action and recovery of the money they allegedly lost, while greater scrutiny of such business schemes could help prevent other expatriates from becoming victims of similar fraud.