KARACHI: Directorate General of Customs Intelligence has served a contravention on M/s Shahbaz Traders for mis-declaring quantity and weight of imported goods to evade government revenue.
Monitoring was kept on an under clearance consignment of used machinery items imported from Hong Kong by M/s Shahbaz Traders.
The consignment was blocked online by the Directorate General, after having been assigned to gate out staff from Model Customs Collectorate, Port Qasim, Karachi, which was re-examined at QICT.
As a result of the re-examination, mis-declaration of quantity/weights of certain items i.e. new copper cable (5450 kgs as against declared/assessed 2000 kgs), new lead acid batteries (1900 kgs as against assessed 700 kgs), new coffee machines(144 pcs as against 25 pcs), new earphones (1850 pcs as against 1500 pcs) besides non declaration/clearance of 75 pcs of new Laser Level German “WURTH Brand, Model MLL08” in the garb of controller for solar LEDs have been found.
Representative sample of the Laser Level was drawn against proper Mushirnama prepared on the spot duly signed by all concerned, which was forwarded to the Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi for determination of assessable value of the same. The Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi intimated the assessable value of new Laser Level German “WURTH Brand, Model MLL08” as $ 400/pc.
Offending value of the imported goods has been worked out to Rs.3.665 million involving of evasion of duty/taxes comes to Rs.1.877 million, which are recoverable from the importer.
Director General Customs Intelligence Shaukat Ali had information that gross mis-declaration was being carried-on at MCC Port Qasim in an organised manner causing loss to national exchequer. Director Customs Intelligence (Enforcement) Samina Wajid, Additional Director Farrukh Sajjad, Deputy Director Tauseef Gorchani kept strict surveilance on examination at MCC Port Qasim.
Resultantly, M/s Shahbaz Traders was found indulging in the fraud and was served with a contravention report. Two more cses of mis-declaration have also been detected.
On the infromation of Shaukat Ali, Customs Intelligence Faisalabad detected two containers imported by M/s EMI Pvt Ltd and found evasion of Rs2.7 million through mis-declaration as M/s EMI Pvt Ltd had mis-declared the goods.
Collector MCC Port Qasim Mukarram Jah Ansari has quite rcently removed Additional Collector Examination for his alleged involvement in patronizing practice of mis-declaration at the collectorate. Sources said mis-declaration at examination level surged since April 2016 after examination staff and clearing agents were forced to mint money for one’s personal good.