LAHORE: As many as 65 customs officials have joined FIA investigation on ‘illegal’ import of allopathic raw material by a party of Lahore, official sources told Customs Today here Tuesday.
The sources said that the FIA has recorded statements of the Customs officials who were allegedly involved in clearance of the pharmaceutical raw material from Karachi.
Earlier, the Customs officials were issued non-bailable arrest warrants for not joining the investigation initiated by the FIA.
The FIR had booked the Customs officials on the complaint of Drug Regulatory Authority who was of the view that the pharmaceutical raw-material was illegally imported and the customs officials were involved in clearance of the illegal import of the raw-material.
The DRA said that the importer Intervac PVT Limited not obtained NOC from the authority which is mandatory.
On the other hand the Customs authorities are of the view that the clearance of the pharmaceutical raw-material was done in accordance with the Import Policy Order 2013 which allows import to the pharmaceutical industries holding valid pharmaceutical manufacturing licence in accordance with the provision of Drug Import and Export Rules, 1976.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 65 officials have joined FIA investigation following the FBR has written letter to the ministry of commerce asking the ministry to stop harassing customs officials.
