KARACHI: The Investigation & Prosecution (I&P) branch of MCC Preventive, Karachi has submitted the charge sheet before the Court against a number of accused for smuggling of betel nut worth Rs250 million approximately.
The charge sheet include several accused including Ismail Kalodi, Abdullah Kalodi, Mohammad Nasir, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Asad, Abdul Rahim, Faisal Abdul Rahim and Aqil while Habibullah Khan, Mohammad Imran, Amjad Khan are in custodyy and Mohammad Shoib is on bail.
Anti-smuggling Organization MCC Preventive Karachi known that a huge quantity of Betel Nuts would be smuggled in the garb of waste and scrap of cast iron from MCC Port Qasim, Karachi. In pursuance of the said information, the staff of ASO under the supervision of SPS/ASO constituted a team and rushed towards the spotted area and found two containers loaded on the vehicles were moving near Shan Chowrangi, Korangi Road, Karachi, which were signaled to stop.
The drivers of vehicles produced two (loading program Equipment Interchange Receipt / Deliver Import Container) showing the containers and Guarantee showing the consignment of 14 containers including these two containers which were cleared from MCC Port Qasim. As there existed discreet information of smuggled Betel Nuts, therefore cursory search was carried out and betel nut was found in both the containers.
Meanwhile both the drivers informed the Customs team that they had loaded those containers from a plot of M/s. Bismillah Cargo Service, a Private Yard situated at near Toyota Motors main road towards Port Qasim. They also informed that at the time of loading, further 05 containers of identical nature were also lying there. On the pointation of these drivers, the Customs team approached the open yard of M/s. Bismillah Cargo Service and found that only two containers were lying there. As these two containers were also included in the list of containers shown on guarantee produced earlier by the drivers, therefore the Guard namely Abdul Basit S/o. Muhammad Sadiq present there was asked about the goods loaded in those containers, but he showed his inability to dilate upon the goods stuffed in container. He further told that those container were kept on rental basis on the request of one Noman. Cursory search of these containers therefore, was carried out which revealed the presence of gunny bags containing betel nuts in the said containers.
Later-on in wake of interception / apprehension of betel nuts recovered from the above 04 containers, endeavors were made to locate the remaining missing containers. It transpired that two containers were lying in the Yard of M/s. M. Younas & Brothers, the same were also found to be stuffed with betel nuts.
Preliminary investigation has emerged that the above consignment consisted of 14 containers had arrived from UAE through vessel namely Prosper and was Gate-out from MCC Port Qasim vide GD filed by A.F. Enterprise on behalf of M/s. City Steel UAE Mills PVT Ltd.
The Betel Nuts were brought into the country, in the garb of Waste & Scrap of Cast Iron HS Code 7204.4100 through Model Customs Collectorate, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim causing colossal revenue loss to the public exchequer.