Supra, Civic and MX-5 face customs probe over alleged local assembly

Customs intelligence officials have seized three luxury cars in Cox’s Bazar over allegations that the vehicles were imported as separate parts and later assembled locally into complete cars, potentially avoiding applicable customs duties and taxes.

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.