Authorized mobile companies deny illegal import
“If authorized companies were intent on breaking the law, there would be no need for them to register as a company and pay tariff, customs duty and personnel expenses,” Citadel Telecom sales manager said.
“The current market situation and the increase in smuggled mobile sets at low prices have left no room for authorized companies to maneuver,” Iman Soltani added.
Also, Pars Comtel managing director Hosein Payandeh has said that all companies released mobile sets on the market in accordance with customs-released certifications showing their quantity, and they did not violate the law in that respect.
“Regarding the dramatic cut in authorized mobile import, it may be true that customs revenue has decreased but that does not mean that authorized companies were the cause,” he added.
Market sources believe that the distribution of warranted mobile sets has decreased dramatically and 95% of the market was now in smugglers’ hands.
Earlier on, Iran Customs Organization’s planning deputy had announced that the number of legally imported mobile sets was not equal to the number released on the market and some authorized companies imported mobile sets more than what had been registered at the Customs office.
113/19