KARACHI: I&I Karachi has recovered large quantity of smuggled spark plugs worth Rs169 million and lodged an FIR in this regard.
Information was passe through Director I&I Karachi Engineer Habib to Additional Director Afzal Wattoo that huge quantity of smuggled / non duty paid foreign origin Auto Parts i.e. Denso Spark Plugs, liable to confiscation has been dumped at M/s. Pakistan Motors godown in D.H.A Karachi for further illegal sale in the local market.
Deputy Director Wasif Malik formed a team led by Principal Appraiser Irshad Shah, Appraising Officer Asad Shabbir. The godown was raided and found huge quantity of foreign origin Auto Parts i.e. Spark Plugs of assorted part numbers, origin and type, stored at the said place.
On query about the legal document of the aforesaid recovered foreign origin spark plugs, no one came forward to produce any relevant document in support of lawful import and possession pertaining to the aforesaid recovered foreign origin goods.
Being smuggled and non duty paid, all the aforesaid foreign origin Denso Spark Plugs (Quantity: 255,000 pieces) have been seized. Further investigation is in progress against the owners of the goods, financiers and other associates in crime.
Investigation is also under way to ascertain the role of the owner of the building in the commission of offence.
An official said these products had not been imported in the country in the last two years and yet these were available in market.
Director General I&I Faiz Ahmed has directed the formations to lodge FIRs in cases of smuggling. The official said earlier contravention reports were served on unscrupulous importers, and then they got their goods released from Adjudication or Tribunal. However, when FIRs are lodged no one comes forward to claim the goods and thus prosecution proceeds smoothly.