QUETTA: Directorate of Transit Trade Quetta has lodged two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) against bonded carriers, clearing agents, and owners of goods for attempting to pilferage transshipment goods. The FIRs were lodged against M/s Jalat Khan & Company Pvt Ltd (Bonded Carrier), M/s Meer Brothers (Owner of the Goods), and M/s Hamza and Brothers (Clearing Agent). Another FIR was lodged against M/s Lucky Diamond (Bonded Carrier), M/s Meer Brothers (Owner of the Goods), and M/s Hamza and Brothers (Clearing Agent).
The information regarding the attempted pilferage was passed through Director Transit Trade Quetta, Muhammad Ismail, to Assistant Director Arshad Zubair. In response, a team comprising name IPS Tanveer, Inspector Nasir Khan, and sepoys was formed to investigate the matter.
Upon receiving the information, the staff posted at NLC detected an attempt to pilferage transshipment goods. The goods, which consisted of foodstuffs such as chips and chocolates of foreign origin, were declared and destined for NLC Dry Port, Quetta.
The brief facts of the case are as follows: A clearing and forwarding agent filed a TP GD for the transshipment of goods from Land Custom Border Station Taftan to NLC Dry Port Quetta. The consignment was loaded onto a vehicle, which, upon its arrival at NLC Dry Port, Quetta, was found to have its wire surrounding the tarpaulin cut off.
Following directions from the Director Transit Trade, Quetta, an examination was conducted in the presence of staff from NLC and TPL Tracker Pvt Ltd. None of the accused approached the staff of the Directorate for de-sealing of the consignment since its arrival. The examination revealed that the goods had been pilfered en-route.
Bonded carriers and clearing and forwarding agents of imported goods are obligated to ensure the integrity of cargo and present the consignment before the relevant Customs Authorities under applicable laws and rules for further processing. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the bonded carrier to deliver the bonded transshipment goods to their destination safely and securely.