Ctg Customs proposes forming a task force for illegal liquor import incidents

Chattogram Custom House Commissioner Md Fakhrul Alam has proposed that a strong task force be formed to ensure strict punishment of those involved in the import and release of five liquor consignments through false declaration last month.

In a letter sent to the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Monday, the commissioner wrote, "The National Board of Revenue or other authorities concerned can form a task force to identify the persons, organisations, officials, employees concerned involved in the import of the liquor through false declaration and other means of forgery and to ensure that they are brought to book."

The task force can consist of representatives from customs, the Crime Investigation Department, the Police Bureau of Investigation, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

There have also been such cases in the past. If exemplary punishment is not ensured to the accused in all these incidents it is not possible to stop this type of fraud and crime.

There is a separate anti-money laundering unit in the Chattogram Customs House which deals with suspected money laundering cases. The documents of the five invoices in question have been sent to the unit for investigation.

Last month, Chattogram Customs seized five consignments of contraband liquor imported under false declaration intending to evade duties worth Tk57.83 crore.

Chattogram Customs authorities have filed five separate cases with the Chattogram Port Police Station in connection with the seizure of five consignments of liquor.