Gambling equipment seized from city restaurant

A team of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate has seized a machine used for casino gambling during a drive at a restaurant at Banani in the capital.

The customs intelligence team on Wednesday noon conducted the drive at New Dragon Chinese Restaurant and confiscated an Electric Mahjong Machine, a gambling equipment, said a press statement issued by CIID.

Under the name of Ninad Trade International, a trader imported seven units of Mahjong machines from China in July 2018 – not paying duties properly.  

After import, the trader was used to selling these gambling instruments to different Chinese people or firms. Though Mahjong is banned in China, it is used for gambling in Hong Kong and in Macau, two Chinese special administrative regions, the statement reads.

Besides, the customs intelligence has also found that the restaurant was a heaven for Chinese gamblers.

The trader imported seven units of Mahjong machines declaring a price at only Tk47,815, but the CIID has found that the price of each machine is Tk250,000.

As per this estimation, the total price of seven units stands at Tk17,50,000, and the amount of duties on this amount is Tk10,25,000.

The importer thus evaded a total of Tk9,96,285 as duties. 

The CIID will look into whether the importer has imported such other casino instruments, and will take actions as per law, the statement said.