A local trader has come under Interpol's radar for importing stolen cars from Japan by illegally altering the chassis and frame numbers, according to a report by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
The investigation revealed that Mahbubur Rahman, owner of Flash One Co Ltd, in collaboration with an organised Japanese crime syndicate, smuggled nine stolen cars into the country through Mongla Customs House.
The vehicles were brought in using falsified documents under the Bill of Lading NYKS182083708-14.
The car models are Toyota C-HR (CH: ZYX10-2194905), Toyota C-HR (CH: ZYX10-2114189), Toyota Harrier(CH: ZSU60-0116435), Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (CH: TRJ150-0095454), Toyota Premio (CH: NZT260-3198565), Toyota Hiace (CH: TRH200-5035106), and another Toyota Hiace (CH: TRH200-0266758).
The National Central Bureau (NCB) of the Japanese National Police Agency alerted Dhaka to the illegal operation, highlighting that the crime group had manipulated the details to facilitate the export.
NBR in action
The NCB also requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to verify if the cars had been cleared from the port. In response, the NBR immediately imposed restrictions on releasing the cars and tasked the Customs Intelligence with conducting an investigation.
After reviewing the import documents, the NBR informed the officer-in-charge of Hatirjheel Police Station in Dhakaand requested the police to conduct further investigation, confirming that the cars had been shipped with illegally altered frame numbers.
Analysing the NCB Tokyo’s letter, Hatirjheel Police Stationconducted its investigation and informed the NBR that the nine cars in question were exported to Bangladesh by changing frame number and conducting a daily-basis tender.
The NCB letter also summarised the case as “This is the case of systematic car theft mainly aimed at Toyota vehicles. Firstly, the members of crime group thieve cars and these automobiles are transferred to above-mentioned Flash One Co Ltd. There, the frame number of each stolen car has altered and exported legitimately after being issued the export certificate.”
It also states that the Aichi Prefectural police have already arrested some of the criminals and requested the Interpol for the arresting of the rest, who are now outside of Japan’s jurisdiction.
Hence, after receiving the Interpol request, authorities at Dhaka are running their own investigation into the thievery.
Proved as systematical theft
As the case has been proved as systematical theft against Mahbubur, the authority of the Mongla Customs Houseissued a show-cause notice against the accused with a stipulated submission deadline of 20 working days.
Regarding the issue, Mongla Customs House Commissioner AKM Mahbubur Rahman told The Business Post, “We have already served a show-cause notice against the importer. After receiving the explanation, we will take the next course of action.”
He further added that as the case is clearly of systematical theft, the cars will be confiscated by the state as per the article 17 of the Customs Act of 1969.
