KARACHI: The Anti-smuggling organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive Karachi has lodged an FIR against M/s Al-Waheed Impex and others for fraudulently importing betel nut in the garb of paper scrap in order to clear the banned goods.
ASO has seized large quantity if betel nut worth Rs44.739 million along with paper scrap worth Rs2.316 million, two vehicles worth Rs1.0 million and 14 containers worth Rs7.0 million.
Information was received that large quantity of betel nuts has been smuggled into country in the garb of import of waste paper scrap in pressed bundles shipped from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was also known that five containers out of a lot of 13 containers cleared from MCC Port Qasim were dumped at M/s Bhatti open yard.
Subsequently, a team of ASO Preventive staff reached the open yard and found betel nut was being unloaded from the containers. Five containers of the lot of above mentioned consignment were found lying there with open doors. It was found that two layers of paper scrap in pressed bundles were kept in front side of the container and cartons stuffed with betel nuts were kept behind the paper scrap inside these containers.
During the exercise, on container was found which was not the part of the said consignment of 13 containers. Instead, it was the part of an earlier consignment of 12 containers imported in February 2018. The containers, goods and two Suzuki pick-up vehicles preent on the spot were taken into the custody.
During the courtse, another raid was conducted on M/s Mumtaz Godown near Steel Mills and remaining eight containers were recovered.
Preliminary investigation has emerged that the above consignment of 13 containers had arrived from Jeddah through vessel namely MS Tiger and was gate out from MCC Port Qasim vide GD filed by M/s Al-Waheed Impex on self basis and cleared from red channel.
It has further emerged that the consignee M/s. Al Waheed lmpex, Karachi had filed the said GD and the clearing Agent namely Ahsan Ullah Bhatti got the GD cleared from MCC Port Muhammad Bin Qasim with the active abetment of one accused namely Muhammad lrfan s/o Muhammad Manzoor who introduced Ahsanullah Bhatti to the importer Waheed Ahmed for ulterior motives. lt has been established beyond any iota of doubt that M/s Al Waheed lmpex, Karachi in collusion with other accomplices-in-crime have indulged in smuggling of above mentioned contraband betel nuts under the garb of paper scrap in pressed bundles.
Involvement of Customs staff has been established in the case and a charge sheet against Deputy Collector Hamid Qambrani has been forwarded to Member Customs.
FIR has been lodged and further investigations are under way.