KARACHI: The Directorate General of Customs Intelligence & Investigation has lodged two FIRs against certain importers and Customs officials, which in connivance with each other deprived national exchequer of its legitimate revenue through claiming inadmissible concessions.
Director of Customs Intelligence (enforcement) Karachi Yaqoob Mako had information that certain elements were involved in illegal claim of sales tax zero rating under 6th schedule of the sales tax Act, 1990 on import of skimmed milk powder and processed cheese.
Additional Farrukh Sajjad, Deputy Directors Tauseef Gorchani and Amjad Rajpar of Customs Intelligence kept strict monitoring on under clearance skimmed milk powder consignments imported from India by M/s Irfan Brothers and processed cheese consignments imported from Austria by M/s Sabiha Anees Trading Enterprises.
After having been cleared/assigned to gate staff, through MCC Appraisement East Karachi, both of these consignments were online blocked by the Customs Intelligence.
Upon re-examination of the consignment of M/s Irfan Brothers, the goods were found to be skimmed milk powder in retail packing of 1.0 KG having brands ‘Paras’ and ‘Madhusudan’. The consignment of M/s Sabiha Anees Trading filed through clearing agent M/s R.H Enterprises was found to be processed cheese ‘Happy cow’ brand in retail packing.
The exemptions claimed by the importers are available to simple cheese and not processed cheese while zero rating is available on skimmed milk powder excluding that sold in retail packing under a brand.
The exemptions were extended on these consignments by the assessing staff despite the fact the examining officer clearly reported in the examination report that skimmed milk powder was in retail packing under a brand name and the cheese was branded processed cheese.
It has been established that the above mentioned importers in connivance with Customs officials illegally claimed exemptions and defrauded public exchequer of millions of rupees.
Separate FIRs have been lodged against M/s Irfan Brothers, M/s Sabiha Anees Trading Enterprises, M/s R.H Enterprises, Appraising Officer Ghulam Asghar Mirani, Examining Officer Shahid Hameed and others.
Investigations are underway and it is expected that several other officials of MCC Appraisement East would be nominated the Challan.