Customs intelligence officials have revved up their efforts to trace about 150 vehicles that were temporarily brought in under a zero-duty import privilege extended to tourists but are yet to be shipped back.

Called the Carnet de Passage, the facility allows tourists to bring in their vehicles without payment of customs duties provided they take them back when they leave the country.

Moinul Khan, director general of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, said nearly 300 cars were allowed entry to Bangladesh under the privilege.

Of the 300 vehicles, about 150 cars were not been taken back, depriving the state of revenue.

“So far, we have detained three such cars that were brought without duty payment under the Carnet de Passage. We are chasing the rest of the cars for duty evasion.”

Khan’s comments came at a press briefing after the seizure of a BMW X-5, a luxury sports utility vehicle, on April 4 from the residence of Kazi Rezaul Mustafa at Gulshan 2 on allegations of duty evasion.

The CIID said it has received allegations that the cars that were brought under the Carnet de Passage and have been in use with fake documents.

“The latest seizure of the vehicle is based on one such allegation,” Khan said.

Customs intelligence officials said the car was imported through false declaration and its registration obtained with fake documents.

The registration of the car, Dhaka Metro Gha-14-0343, has also been renewed every year, according to the customs intelligence directorate.

“We will enquire with the BRTA how the car was given registration,” Khan said, adding that his office did not find documents that matched the physical condition of the car and its model.

For example, the registration of the car was obtained by claiming its engine number was B20B-1129263. But various documents related to the vehicle show that the engine number is 27595077, according to the CIID.

It shows that the car was imported illegally without payment of duty and taxes, the CIID said, adding that the value of the car, including duty and taxes, would be Tk 3 crore.

Khan said the vehicle was imported by a person from Sylhet and was later sold on.

Contacted, Mustafa said in a text message that they purchased the car from Rukuh Miah of Sylhet, who deceived them by saying that all documents were okay.

“It was in our garage and was not used as its registration was not okay.”

Previously, the CIID detained one Mercedes Benz and a BMW on allegations of illegal import.

In addition, it seized four cars imported by the local office of budget carrier Flydubai on allegations of duty evasion.

Saiful Haque, chairman of Sky Aviation Services, the general sales agent of Flydubai, said the cars were taken away for the sake of a proper investigation. He said he now wants to send the cars out of Bangladesh.

Khan said those who are using illegally imported cars should surrender to the customs intelligence to avoid stern legal measures.

“We have taken steps to seize the cars that are yet to be taken back. We encourage people to surrender the vehicles voluntarily. If we seize the cars we will take stern legal action.”