Case filed over import of fake cosmetic materials
Narayanganj: Customs intelligence on Wednesday filed a case against Mohammad Belayet Hossain, owner of Moonstar Marketing Ltd, on charges of importing fake cosmetic materials and of tax evasion.
The case was filed with the Siddhirganj police station under several sections of Customs Act 1969, Trade Mark Act 2009, Special Power Act 1974, and Consumer Right Protection Act 2009, said Moinul Khan, director general of customs intelligence and investigation directorate while briefing journalists at his office.
The official said the case was filed as the owner was producing fake cosmetics refilling renowned brand containers, which were imported from abroad through false declaration. The factory was busted on 4 March.
Tipped off, customs intelligence, Rapid Action Battalion and Value Added Tax officials raided the factory at Shimrail of Siddhirganj in Narayanganj where they found bottles of body spray, perfume and gel of world renowned brands with low grade chemicals inside, which is a clear offense, said Moinul.
After analyzing their documents and samples of their products, we have found out an alarming risk, he said.
The customs has seized blank containers of renowned perfume brands like Fog, Cobra, Brut, Blue Lady etc which had mentions like imported from France, Indonesia, UAE, and Canada, the official added.
Responding to a question why there was delay in filing of the case, Moinul said that the owner asked for times for filing of documents while sealing the factory.
‘The owner has submitted 12 bills of entry, which we later found as contradictory with information at different customs stations and with the sample of his products. In addition, we need to take permission from few places in filing such cases. So it took time,’ he said.
According to the seizure list, customs has seized 11.22 lakh blank containers, 50,000 pieces of loaded products (including perfume, body spray and gel). It also seized 1.25 lakh pieces of razors, and 6 lakhs of blades which were not imported by paying tax.
Currently, the factory owner is on run.