KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Karachi has lodged an FIR against M/s M.A International for smuggling of auto parts under cover of iron and steel scrap along with serviceable auto parts through mis-declaration.
Information was received through Additional Collector Sheeraz Ahmed that M/s M.A. International in connivance with the staff of Badaru Din Examination Yard No. 10. East Wharf stuffed new auto parts in a container under the garb of iron and steel scrap along with serviceable auto pans through mis-declaration.
In pursuance of above information, discrete watch was kept on the said container by Superintendent Fakhar Shah. Later, a vehicle loaded with the container was intercepted by Customs Intelligence Karachi at gate-out stage and examination of the container led to the recovery of news and old auto parts along with serviceable auto parts. The container was imported by M/s M.A International.
The examination found the goods were worth Rs15 million as against Rs2.612 million declared in the GD.
Preliminary investigations found that the said consignment had been examined twice by Customs Appraisement. Staff of Appraisement served a contravention report mentioning the value of contravening goods to be Rs1.417 million while R&D East served another contravention report mentioning the value of additional contravening goods to be Rs0.735 million.
Sources said that these contravention reports were served to provide protection to the fraud, as the actual value of the goods is Rs15 million on which Rs12 million had been evaded. Collector Appraisement East Nadeem Memon has put AO Saud at East Wharf and R&D AO Ali Raza on duty off pending investigations.
It may be mentioned here that for the last three years, there was a one-man show at Customs Intelligence Karachi wherein a BS-19 officer was patronizing the unscrupulous elements and enabling the culprits to misuse green channel facility. Sources said the above mentioned officer was the blue-eyed of former Director General Customs Intelligence Shaukat Ali. Due to the direct involvement of Shaukat Ali, Director Customs Intelligence Karachi was powerless.
It may be mentioned here that for three years there was only one Additional Director at I&I Karachi, although there were two Additional Director positions in the directorate.
Later, DG I&I Zahid Khokar appointed Sheeraz Ahmed as the second Additional Director.
Sources said the contractors proving labour to the container terminals including PICT, KICT, Al Hamd Terminal, Pak Shaheen Terminal and BOML terminal were involved in replacing of containerized cargo wherein low value and low tariff goods as declared in the documents are replaced with high value and high tariff goods after assessment and examination. The role of terminal operators in this scam is also being investigated.