KARACHI: Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Hyderabad has started a crackdown against the smuggled vehicles and lodged four FIRs against unidentified persons in cases of foreign smuggled/non-duty paid vehicles worth million of rupees.
According to details, Inspector Syed Momin Hussain and Khair Muhammad of ASO had prior information that smuggled vehicles are present at different locations in Hyderabad. Responding vibrantly to this information the ASO team conducted raids at Panhwar Goth, Qasimabad and Defense Plaza where the said vehicles were found and seized.
It is pertinent to mention that two of the vehicles Toyota Land Cruiser amounting to Rs1.5 million (excluding taxes and duties) and Toyota Hilux Surf amounting to Rs0.8 million (excluding taxes and duties) bearing registration Nos.LOZ-4523 and CP-1526 were found near the workshop Garage in Qasimabad area.
One Toyota Prado amounting to Rs1.0 million (excluding taxes and duties) and Toyota Hilux Surf, only Toyota Prado was without any registration number and was found parked at Defence Plaza.
Moreover, Toyota Hilux Surf bearing registration No.BD-6339 amounting to Rs1.0 million (excluding taxes and duties), was found parked near Nasim Nagar Chowk, Qasimabad.
During the physical examination of all the seized imported vehicles, the ASO team could not found any relevant documents nor the owner’s identity was ascertained. The ASO team also inquired from the mechanic regarding the possession of the vehicle but the mechanic replied that the driver or possession holder of the vehicles had dropped the car for repair and maintenance after which he did not came back.
Furthermore, after waiting for half an hour and completion of all the formalities, the ASO staff seized the vehicles and brought it to the Customs House, Hyderabad. It is also to mention that even after the maturity of the detention period, neither the owner of the vehicles came forward to claim the ownership of the seized vehicles nor the import documents were received.
Lastly, seizing agency remarked that the detained vehicles are smuggled and brought in the country through illegitimate channels sans payment of duty and taxes whereas the seized vehicles have been deposited in the State Warehouse, MCC Hyderabad. Further investigations are underway to arrest the accused persons.
It may be recalled a large scale reshuffling was carried out at MCC Hyderabad after the surfacing of motorcycle parts mis-declaration scam. Since then smugglers are being dealt with iron hands.