Unlike in the past, this time the Regional Revenue and Customs Office in Phuentsholing has been seeing an increasing number of bogus import declaration cases. This, the Customs officials say has been triggered by the Indian National Rupee crunch in the country.
According to the Customs officials, importers either declare goods that have not been imported at all or declare more than the actual goods imported.
In November alone, the Customs in Phuentsholing intercepted six such cases. The value ranged from Nu.150,000 to 13,00,000. Two more such cases were reported within the first week of this month.
The Customs and Excise’s Joint Collector, Pema Wangchen, said people are trying to misuse landing certificate. “The moment goods land into Bhutan; it is exempted from Value Added Taxes whereby the goods are cheaper in Bhutan than in India. This is the main reason why people try to deflect goods which are of essential nature.”
Customs officials said, when they issue the import declaration form, it is an adequate proof that goods imported have reached Bhutan. Based on the import declaration form, Banks issue INR drafts against the supplier
But before issuing import declaration form, customs officials carry out physical verification of the goods.
They said, to intercept such malpractices, they also depend on information sharing system from their informers.
However, with the current office lacking a bigger space for physical verification, it hampers their work. In a day, around 800 transactions take place at their check point.
Office In-charge of Customs Border Gate, Chhimi Dorji, said they also have to share space with immigration office which is located on the top floor of their office.
Meanwhile, the customs officials also seized about 20 kilogram medicinal plant locally known as Bang. While the worth of the seizure is yet to be ascertained, Customs officials said the plant was brought from Wangdue Phodrang.
