13000 credit and debit cards illegally

Abdul aziz Shafiq.Dhaka:  There is the provision for importing international debit and credit cards through particular agents with prior approval of the Bangladesh Bank. But a syndicate is bringing in debit and credit cards (master cards) from the US illegally flouting the related law.

The people concerned fear the cards being brought in illegally may be used in committing crimes.

Customs sources said a syndicate brought in about 13,000 credit and debit cards (pay-owner) illegally in the last three months. They declared the products as the cards having magnetic strips used for opening doors. The products are delivered through the courier service.

The preventive team of the Dhaka Customs House seized about 3,000 master cards at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the city on June 1.

The cards were brought in by Morshed Ali, Liaquat Ali and Maha Akhter of Chittagong. Though they used different addresses, actually they are members of a single family.

When asked about this, Dhaka Customs House assistant commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker told, “In early June last about 3,000 master cards were brought into Bangladesh. On a tip-off we conducted a drive and seized the cards.”

He also said, “The master cards were brought in by declaring them on the cartons as plastic cards having magnetic strips used for opening doors. A C&F agent has claimed those as cards used for opening doors. When challenged, the representative of the C&F agent disappeared sensing the danger. After that, none has come up to take delivery of the cards.”

Shahiduzzaman also said, “We informed two intelligence agencies of the matter. They are investigating it.”

He also said, “We received a tip-off on it. The money laundered from abroad for financing extremism, subversive activities and other types of crimes are sent through these cards. On receipt of the tip-off we employed our sources. They informed us that a consignment was carrying about 5,500 cards. But in our drive we found 3,000 cards. We think the remaining cards have been smuggled by any other means.”

He also said about 13,000 cards had been brought in through the airport in three phases.

“People having different identities are intimidating me after seizure of the cards. The phone number that was used for intimidating me has been given to the intelligence agencies,” he added.

Dhaka Customs House Commissioner Mohammad Lutfar Rahman told, “The preliminary investigation has revealed that the master cards are used for committing different crimes.”

“The seized 3000 cards were sent to Morshed Ali and his family in Chittagong from the US. In exchange for that he gets Tk 20,000 per month. Morshed Ali himself has admitted it. He has also admitted what he had been doing is illegal. The master cards brought in illegally can be used for withdrawal of money from any master card-marked ATM booth,” he added.

When contacted, Morshed Ali told, “Actually the master cards were supposed to be brought in through banks. But the pay-owners sent the cards to our address, because we were their customers once.”

When asked, Morshed Ali said, “Here I have been appointed as an agent. They gave me Tk 20,000 in salary per month.”

Talking to some card division officials of some banks it has been learnt that they import master cards and visa cards through their agents on prior approval and depending on the demand. But the master card authority contacts the bank concerned before printing such cards. They do it to be sure that any company has been awarded the work order for importing master cards. Then they print the cards. They are brought home by paying the necessary duties and abiding by the existing laws and rules.

A card division official said if anyone had imported the master cards by giving false information, then he might have an ulterior motive.

The Laidback Soft Ltd has long been importing master and visa cards. The managing director of the organisation Abu Abdullah Al Shafi told thereport24.com, “The cards are imported through particular agents after opening LCs (letter of credit) based on the work order from a bank. If anyone imports the cards flouting the related laws, then, of course, it is illegal.”