KARACHI: MCC Appraisement East has seized a container of betel nut, which had come from Jebel Ali and was destined for Lahore dry port through trans-shipment permit (TP).
Information was received through Collector Saeed Akram that attempt would be made to smuggle betel nut through TP. Deputy Collector Mohammad Ali Malik, Principal Appraiser Dost Mohammad, Senior Preventive officer Malak Hashim and FO Adil Rasheed pursued the case and examined the subject container to find betel nuts.
The consignment was imported by M/s Al-Noor Traders and declared to be networking cables, glass beads and soaps.
It may be mentioned here that import clearance of betel nuts has completely stopped and around 200 containers are stuck at ports, which would now be re-exported to India.
The clearance stopped after government linked imports with phytosanitary certification and permit by plant protection authority.
Since legal import has stopped betel nut is finding way through smuggling and mis-declaration. However, Collectors in Appraisement South Region and directorate of Transit Trade are keeping strict vigil on the movement of goods.
It is suspected, the betel nut was to be replaced with the declared goods during transit to the dry port.
