The import cargo facility at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been without a scanner for the past 10 months, forcing Customs officials to rely on bills of entry and physical inspections to assess imported goods.
The absence of the scanner has raised concerns over the ability to detect illicit goods being brought into the country under the cover of legitimate consignments.
The issue came into focus after customs authorities recently seized 16kg of gold concealed inside fruit cartons from the airport’s import cargo facility.
The seizure was made based on prior intelligence, with customs officials later searching the consignment and recovering the gold.
Dhaka Customs House Commissioner Mashiur Rahman disclosed the information at a press conference held Thursday afternoon following the seizure of 20kg of gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He said the scanner at the import cargo facility was damaged in a fire on October 18 last year and has not been replaced since.
“The process of purchasing a scanner is underway,” he said.
According to sources, customs officials seized 16kg of gold specially concealed inside fruit cartons from the import cargo facility on July 19.
Later, information emerged that another 10 consignments from the same company had arrived at the airport.
Those concerned said there was no way to guarantee that gold or other illicit goods had not been smuggled through those consignments.
They said Customs officials currently examine bills of entry and physically inspect imported goods. However, given the volume of cargo handled at the facility, it is not always possible to thoroughly inspect every item in large consignments.
As a result, large quantities of goods could potentially leave the facility without adequate examination, they said.
“This is a major threat for us,” they added.
Khairul Kabir Bhuiyan Mithu, vice-president of the C&F Agents Association, said having a scanner at the import cargo facility was essential.
“We have been hearing for several months that a scanner is coming. But it has not arrived yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Customs Additional Commissioner Kamrul Islam said it was incorrect to suggest that goods were leaving the facility without inspection because there was no scanner.
“Our officials physically check every consignment,” he said.
However, having a scanner would make the inspection process easier, he added.
Scanner damaged in airport fire
A fire broke out at the Cargo Village Complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at noon on October 18 last year.
Thirty-seven units from 13 fire stations worked for nearly six and a half hours to bring the blaze under control.
Goods worth hundreds of crores of taka were destroyed in the fire.
The scanner at the import cargo facility was also damaged in the incident and has remained out of operation since then.
