The Customs Intelligence has found that four companies have smuggled Tk382 crore out of the country by forging goods export permits, an official said on Tuesday. The companies did not return their foreign exchange earned from the exported products, Mohammad Fakhrul Alam, Director General of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), told a news conference in the capital. According to the CIID, four companies are Sabiha Saiki Fashion, Asia Trading Corporation, Emu Trading Corporation, and Ilham Trading Corporation. These companies have exported various products including t-shirts, tops, ladies' dresses, trousers, baby sets, bags, polo shirts, jackets, pants, and hoodies to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, UK, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. The DG said that after receiving complaints involving exports of goods by forging documents evidence of money laundering was found in the investigation. Also Read: Intelligence agencies working to prevent militants’ rise: Home Minister Referring to the information found in the investigation, he said that Sabiha Saiki Fashion exported 86 consignments of goods at different times. The exchange value of the products exported by them is Tk18.45 crore. On scrutiny of the documents of the consignments of the goods, it was found that the Export Permits (EXPs) issued by them were in the names of different companies. A permit cannot be used for more than one export shipment. As a result, these EXPs are not functional. There is no opportunity to bring foreign currency back to the country in a legal way, Alam said. The DG said the investigation revealed that in addition to Sabiha Saiki Fashion, three other companies have committed similar fraud for exporting products. “Four companies have committed such fraud in shipments of 1,780 products using the same tactics. Against these shipments, 18,265 tonnes of goods have been exported, the declared value of which is around Tk 382 crores,” Alam added. Sabiha Saiki Fashion exported Tk 21 crore, Asia Trading Corporation Tk 282 crore, Emu Trading Corporation Tk 62 crore, and Ilham Corporation Tk 17 crore.      

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said on Friday they arrested six members of a human trafficking gang foiling their bid to smuggle three young women out to India with promises of lucrative jobs. The arrests were made at Siddhirganj upazila in Narayanganj district. The arrestees were identified as Jhuma Akter, 28, Sharmin Akter, 29, Minara Rina, 35, Rabeya Akter, 27, Komly Khatun, 32, and Shahjamal, 40. The Rab also recovered several mobile phone sets and debit cards of the targeted women from the possession of the arrestees during the drive, Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir Mahmud Pasha, captain of the Rab-11 told a press conference in the district on Friday noon. The human traffickers took a woman to Benapole boarder to try to take her to neighbouring India. She was promised a job at a beauty parlour across the border with a handsome salary. Realising the trap the woman somehow escaped from the alleged traffickers and returned to Narayanganj where she lodged a written complaint against them at the headquarters of the Rab-11 on Thursday afternoon. Read: International human trafficking gang member held in Meherpur As per the complaint, the elite force conducted a drive in Mijmiji Batanparra area of the upazila and arrested the human traffickers. Rab rescued another two women from their custody, he said. The Rab officer said the traffickers usually target poor women alluring them with jobs and better life abroad.   A case related to the incident was filed at the local police station and the arrestees were sent to a court, he added.