KARACHI: Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation (Customs) has lodged FIRs against five importers and two clearing agents, as a crackdown has been initiated against the reported mis-declaration of classification and weight as well as under-invoicing being carried out at the Customs House Taftan.
The cases have been registered against five importers including M/s Emirates Oil Traders, M/s Sardar Enterprises, M/s Saleem & Sons, M/s Ghulam Mohammad & sons and M/s Al-Quresh while clearing agents including M/s Unique Traders and M/s A.R International.
Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs), Lutfullah virk has taken notice of the reported revenue leakage and corruption at Customs House Taftan and directed Deputy Director Inam Wazir to streamline the affairs.
It was known that Lutfullah virk is already in possession of tons of concrete evidence regarding irregularities and corruption at Taftan Customs House. A cartel has been involved in this scam since long and duty/taxes were being evaded in an organized manner.
These importers in connivance with clearing agents and Customs officials were inflicting a huge loss to the economy. It was known that through proper documentation but mis-declaration, 50 percent of duty and taxes were being evaded on transshipment to MCC Quetta from Customs House Taftan.
Customs Intelligence Quetta and FC in a joint operation seized three trucks cleared from Custom House Taftan. Upon scrutiny and analysis, it was known that one truck was containing tea. As per transshipment (TP) document, the truck had 22 tons of tea but physically the truck had more than 48 tons of tea.
Two more trucks cleared from customs house Taftan contained motor oil but the importers had mis-declared goods as Wax Oil. It is estimated that legitimate government revenue to the tune of Rs4.7 million had been evaded on these three truckloads of commodities.
FIR has been lodged by Customs Intelligence while Deputy Collector Taftan Dr Amir Nawaz, Superintendent Mushtaq Jamaldini and many other officers have been taken into investigation proceedings
These officers are allegedly patronizing the fraud, which was underway since long and the national exchequer had been inflicted colossal loss.
It was also known that Customs Intelligence and Investigation has obtained past record of the Customs House Taftan and severe irregularities are likely to be unearthed. Sources said that a long line of cases and FIRs are likely in the coming days in this regard.