Biratnagar: Biratnagar Customs has suspended the license of customs agent Bharat Bhattarai for three months after it was discovered that he had been renting out his credentials to unauthorized individuals to facilitate revenue evasion.
This disciplinary action serves as a primary warning, with Biratnagar Customs Chief Umesh Shrestha stating that any future recurrence of such fraudulent behaviour will result in the permanent revocation of the license.
The move follows investigative reports detailing how the illegal leasing of professional licenses has become a gateway for smuggling and tax fraud at the border.
The investigation revealed that Bhattarai had leased his customs clearance license to an individual named Akbar Ali for an annual fee of Rs 200,000. Using Bhattarai’s identity, Ali attempted to smuggle high-value goods by providing false information on the customs declaration forms.
The scheme was exposed in late July when the Armed Police Force intercepted an Indian-registered truck that had already been cleared by customs. Upon a physical re-inspection, authorities discovered that while Ali had declared the shipment as sewing machines and eyeglasses, he had actually hidden 27 different types of undeclared items and 12 sacks of expensive clothing inside. Following this discovery, the customs office confiscated goods worth Rs 157,000 and imposed a fine of Rs 577,000 on Ali.
In addition to the action taken against the agent, Biratnagar Customs has relieved two officials involved in the faulty clearance process from their duties for one month. While the office has chosen not to disclose the names of these employees, the incident has highlighted significant lapses in the internal inspection mechanism.
This is not the first time such malpractices have surfaced in Biratnagar; in the past, agents like Kundan Mandal and Riwaj Rokka faced heavy fines and temporary bans for similar revenue fraud. Records show that Mandal was previously fined Rs 1.6 million, while Rokka was penalized Rs 400,000 for clearing goods through borrowed licenses.
The broader implications of this case point toward a systemic crisis within the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association. Out of the 40 licensed agents affiliated with the association, only about five or six actually perform their duties personally. The majority of the licensees reportedly rent out their permits for annual fees ranging from Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000.
Sources within the customs office indicate that these “proxy agents” often forge the signatures of the actual license holders, many of whom are currently residing abroad, to facilitate the movement of goods. This widespread culture of license-sharing is identified as a major driver of corruption and significant revenue loss for the state.
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