KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence Karachi on information made a huge seizure of telecommunication equipment and accessories including circuit breaker and outdoor rectifiers imported by Mobilink.
Sources revealed that the seized goods were being cleared mis-declaring the PCT and concealing the actual value from Appraisement (West) Collectorate Karachi port.
According to details eight seized containers were taken into custody by Customs Intelligence Karachi, which were being cleared through green channel under self-assessment scheme. Value of the seized goods in customs goods documents (GDs) was declared as Rs 30.74 million and an amount of Rs 1.1 million was paid as duties and taxes.
DG Intelligence & Investigation FBR, Lutfullah virk received authentic information, subsequently Director Asif Marghoob Siddiqui formed a team comprising Additional Director Farrukh Sajjad, Deputy Director Mohammad Tayyab.
The goods and their documents were checked by Customs Intelligence officials, which revealed that actual value of the seized goods was Rs 70.79 million with leviable duties and taxes at Rs 40.1 million.
The importer failed to provide a satisfactory explanation to the notices and queries of Intelligence Officials for short paid duties and taxes. Accordingly the goods were seized for violation of different sections of Customs Act, 1969, Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Income Tax Ordinance-2001 and were handed over to the KICT officials at Karachi port.
A formal seizure report has been sent to Collector Customs Adjudication for further proceedings of recovery of duties and taxes along with fine and penalty.
When contacted Director Customs Intelligence Muhammad Asif Marghoob Siddiqui confirmed the incident and told that this was done on the basis of credible information. He informed that during last one year Customs Intelligence Karachi had detected many cases of evasion of duty & taxes worth billions of rupees in the import of national and international mobile companies operating in Pakistan.
He told that imports and past records of these mobile companies are being minutely examined and any attempt to deprive national exchequer of its legitimate revenue will be foiled. The incident has also been brought to the notice of the Director General Lutfullah Virk who has asked Director Customs Intelligence to proceed in the matter as per law.