KARACHI: Customs Appraisement East has detected a fiscal fraud committed by M/s Model Paper and Board Mills, wherein the importers attempted to clear high value and high tariff goods including betel nut in the garb of newspaper waste through submitting fake and false information.
Information was received through Collector Eng. Riaz Memon that M/s Model Paper and Board Mills imported a consignment and it declared to contain newspaper waste from Greece instead of actual port of loading Jebel Ali UAE.
It was also known that the importers in active connivance with their clearing agent M/s N. R enterprises, The Mariners Institute and two principal appraisers mis-declared the description, classification, quantity, value and origin of the imported goods by submitting fake and fabricated documents.
On examination, the goods were found to be 51 tons of betel nut, split air conditioners and LED TVs instead of declared newspaper waste.
The examination ascertained the total customs value of the consignment as $62,080 (Rs10.22 million involving duty and taxes of Rs12.128 million.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that M/s The Mariners Institute filed Import General Manifest of this consignment with incorrect information. The Mariners Institute committed a fraud by issuing false Bill of Lading by mentioning port of loading as Piraeus, Greece instead of actual port of loading i.e. Jabel Ali UAE and fed the incorrect port of loading “Piraeus, Greece” in WeBOC system.
This incorrect information submitted to the Customs became basis for this fraudulent acts and facilitated the importers and their accomplices to defraud Customs as well as national exchequer.
M/s Model Paper and Board Mills (Pvt.) Limited, Sheikhupura, The Mariners Institute, Karachi, clearing agent M/s N.R Enterprises, Karachi with connivance of two principal Appraisers committed fiscal fraud and illegal fund transfer abroad.
Collector Appraisement East Eng. Riaz Memon has forwarded the case to Chief collector Suraya Butt seeking permission to lodge an FIR against the accused. However, despite lapse of four days Chief Collector hasn’t given permission for lodging of FIR.
An official said that Chief Collector office was under severe pressure to avoid lodging of FIR. This is a case of smuggling and fiscal fraud and an FIR needs to be lodged against the culprit instead of just a contravention report.