Ctg customs launches probe into recent fraud incidents

Chittagong Customs House, responsible for clearing almost 90 per cent of the country’s import and export goods, have launched an investigation to look into probable loopholes in their system after reports of fraud centring Import Permit (IP) numbers and scanning surfaced recently.

Recently, some consignments were confiscated after it was found that illegal liquor were being brought into the country using the IP of reputed companies and falsifying screener reports at the port.

Already, a six-member inquiry committee has been formed and preparations are also being made to initiate a wider investigation process to identify any flaw in the customs procedure.

“The current fully-computerized customs system is state-of-the-art and considered to be very secured.  Despite that, recent incidents of fraud need a thorough investigation,” said Chittagong Customs House Commissioner Fakhrul Alam.

For now, Customs House officials will conduct the investigation, and if needed organizations or individuals skilled in information technology along with members from law enforcement agencies will be included with the probe.

Last week, five containers of illegally imported foreign liquor were seized in three consignments while trying to bypass a large sum of duty.

Probe committee members told The Business Post that customs systems were allegedly hacked to import these consignments from China and the names and IP numbers of several reputable companies in the export processing zone were used.

Chittagong Customs uses a fully computerized system called Automated System for Customs Data ASYCUDA World, recognized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD.

Customs officers, clearing & forwarding agents of consignments, and others concerned can access the system using specific individual passwords created for them.

The IPs used in the recent case were issued from the Export Processing Zone Authority under the name of a few industrial establishments, they added.

Besides, the scan report for these consignments, issued by the scanner machine while taking delivery of goods from the port, was also found to be forged.

Customs sources said that the initial information was received that the customs system had been intruded by some outside the office of the industries who’s IPs were issued. Also, scanner reports issued in the name of other consignments were also forged.

Probe committee members also suspect that a large criminal gang is involved with these forgeries.

The investigation will also probe who hacked the system and whether customs officials concerned were involved or negligent in this regard.

Customs Additional Commissioner Abdur Nur Rashed Ahamed, who is heading the six-member investigation committee, said that the investigation will also look into the probability of an error in the system.

Officials said that although cases of such forgery occur occasionally, the recent hauls were the biggest where a series of forgeries took place for several consignments.

The Rapid Action Battalion has already arrested one person from Dhaka for his involvement in one of these incidents.

According to customs sources, a case will be filed in this regard naming of those involved.