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 declared as used car spare parts.

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

The illicit consignment arrived from Japan’s Mahi Car Port and was handled by Dhaka-based importer Crown Auto Mobile Services, with Khulna’s ST International acting as the clearing and forwarding agent under bill of entry number C-6904. The manifest detailed 164 packages spanning 14 categories of declared 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 analyzed serial numbers, labels, stickers, and manufacturing markers, utilizing 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 relevant international classification rules, rather than qualifying as fragmented spare parts.

The vehicles identified within the shipment include:

• A 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue, carrying an estimated market value between 16 million and 18.5 million takas.

• A 2016 Lexus LX570, valued between 20 million and 35 million takas or higher.

• A 2010 BMW 650i, valued between 6 million and 9 million takas.

• A Toyota Crown Athlete, valued between 3 million and 4.5 million takas.

Despite the multi-million-taka valuation, the importers declared an invoice value of just 7,935 US dollars. Utilizing 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 to determine the exact extent of attempted revenue evasion. Legal proceedings are underway against the involved entities.