Some importers have long been using fake lab reports and false declarations to smuggle in banned sugar substitutes like sodium cyclamate, locally known as "ghono chini", through Chattogram port, often with the help of some customs officials and clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents.

According to Chattogram Custom House and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) records, at least six consignments containing over 120 tonnes of sodium cyclamate have been seized in the last four years.

However, in February 2023, one consignment managed to get released under suspicious circumstances, revealing the depth of collusion inside the customs system.

In the latest incident, the Customs House seized 60 tonnes of sodium cyclamate from three containers imported by HP International, based in Motijheel, Dhaka.

A customs official said the consignment, declared as "Soda Ash Light," arrived from China on August 16. Acting on a tip-off from the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the NBR, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), and Customs House officials suspended the release and conducted a physical examination on September 16.

According to the customs documents, the samples of goods were sent to laboratories at Dhaka University's Nanotechnology Centre, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet), and the Customs House Laboratory. All three confirmed that the product was indeed sodium cyclamate -- a synthetic sweetener 30 to 50 times sweeter than regular sugar.

The sweetener is listed among prohibited imports under the Import Policy Order 2021-2024, as it poses severe health hazards, including cancer, kidney, and liver damage. The consignment, valued at around Tk 2 crore, has been detained under the Customs Act, 2023, and legal action is underway.

HM Kabir, deputy commissioner of the Chattogram Customs House, told The Daily Star, "Preparations are underway to file criminal cases against both the importer and the C&F agent responsible for releasing the shipment, while their import and export activities are being brought under close surveillance. In addition, all consignments of chemicals or products with properties similar to sodium cyclamate will now be subject to heightened monitoring."

Custom House records show that in 2023, Dhaka-based importer Hridoy International managed to release a 14-tonne consignment of sodium cyclamate under a false declaration of calcium carbonate powder through Chattogram port, despite a prior examination that identified it as a banned item.

According to customs documents and multiple inquiry reports obtained by The Daily Star, the consignment arrived from China in March 2022, was locked by customs surveillance in November 2022, and was finally released in February 2023 after misleading reports were issued by three assistant revenue officers along with supporting lab results from the Customs House and CIID.

A primary investigation found that the importer submitted fabricated lab and physical examination reports, allowing the goods to be cleared. Despite clear evidence, no punitive action has yet been taken against the officials involved.

Customs insiders described the release as "mysterious," noting that the importer paid over Tk 27 lakh in demurrage (per container per day fee) -- nearly ten times the import cost -- to redeem the goods worth only Tk 3.5 lakh, raising questions about the motive behind such an expensive clearance.

Contacted, Hridoy International Managing Director Hriduan Ahmed Tanvir claimed that he cleared the shipment "under pressure from the bank and exporter". He added, "I was not aware that the consignment contained sodium cyclamate. The customs and CIID's preliminary reports stated it was calcium carbonate, so the goods were released accordingly."

Traders say that one kg of sodium cyclamate is equivalent to 40-50 kg of sugar, and that substituting it yields at least Tk 5,000 extra profit per kilogramme in the production of sweets, ice creams, and soft drinks.

After the consignment was detained, the Chattogram Customs House sent a letter to the importer requesting a physical examination of the goods. In response, Erfan Uddin, a representative of HP International, contacted the customs office.

Contacted, Erfan Uddin told The Daily Star, "The importer had earlier cleared two consignments from the same exporter, and I personally supervised those consignments as a friend of the importer. However, this time the exporter might have mistakenly sent a different product. That's why the importer did not take any further steps to clear this consignment."

Asked whether the importer would take any action regarding this consignment, he said, "We have no information on whether the importer will take any further steps in this regard."