The Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has intercepted a suspicious consignment at Mongla Port, uncovering four luxury vehicles that were sliced into large sections and falsely declared as used car spare parts.

According to an official press release issued by the National Board of Revenue on Thursday, the shipment contained structural parts and essential components that, if reassembled, would fully restore the core characteristics and integrity of the vehicles. Authorities estimate the cumulative market value of these four high-end cars to range between 45 million and 67 million takas, or potentially higher.

The illicit shipment arrived from Japan’s Mahi Car Port under bill of entry number C-6904. The importer is listed as Dhaka-based Crown Automobile Services, while Khulna’s ST International acted as the clearing and forwarding agent. The manifest declared 164 packages spanning 14 categories of goods, including used doors, petrol engines with gear assemblies, suspension shock absorbers, nose cuts, headlights, tail lights, fenders, cabins, steering wheels, and bumpers.

Acting on a tip-off, customs intelligence officials from the Khulna regional office and Mongla circle halted the clearance process. On 19 July, a comprehensive physical examination of the consignment was conducted. To ensure absolute technical accuracy, authorities enlisted specialist engineers from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology. Investigators analysed serial numbers, labels, stickers, and manufacturing markers, utilising advanced technical tools to uncover the true identity of the vehicles.

The physical inspection revealed that the parts were not standard standalone replacements. Instead, the vehicles had been systematically sectioned into major components—including front cuts, rear cuts, roof panels, and midsections—complete with integrated electrical wiring harnesses, crucial sensors, and operational circuitry. Technical experts concluded that the components retained the essential characteristics of complete motor vehicles under statutory classification rules, rather than qualifying as fragmented spare parts.

The specific vehicles identified within the shipment include the following:

Despite the multi-million-taka valuation, the importers declared an invoice value of just 7,935 US dollars. Utilising an exchange rate of 122.74 takas per dollar alongside minor incidental costs, the declared taxable value was logged at a meager 993,547 takas, with total assessed duties and taxes calculated at a mere 610,030 takas.

The National Board of Revenue is currently recalculating the correct classification, age, engine capacity, depreciation, and applicable duties under standard statutory guidelines. If officially reclassified from spare parts to partially assembled motor vehicles, the adjustment will significantly alter the final duty assessment and reveal the exact extent of attempted revenue evasion. Legal proceedings and investigations into the importing entities are currently ongoing.