KARACHI: MCC Port Qasim has foiled an attempt to clear betel nut in the garb of plastic scrap and recovered goods worth millions of rupees.
Collector MCC Port Qasim Chaudry Jawaid has advised the staff to tighten examination of import consignments coming from Jebel Ali to foil any attempt of clearing betel nut through mis-declaration.
On the directives of Deputy Collector Yawar Nawaz, Appraising Officer Zeeshan Ahmed assigned the consignment imported from Jebel Ali by M/s premier Plastics for examination. When the container was de-sealed for examination, it resulted in recovery of 26 tons of betel nut.
MCC Preventive’s help has been sought to arrest the culprits including owner of M/s Premier Plastics is Qasim and Customs Agent is Qalandar Bux.
Additional Collector R&D Yasin Murtaza has appointed Principal Tariq Aziz, Appraising Officers Anwer Zeb and Nafees Qureshi for further investigations.
Betel nut is continuously being cleared from green channel and through mis-declaration. Sources said earlier the political figures of the previous government were patronizing this illicit trade, but now some senior officers of Customs were running this game. Sources said these officers were making deals and receiving their cut in bank accounts in Dubai.