KARACHI: The Additional Collector of Customs and Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-II have issued Order-in-Originals (ONOs) to M/s Rustam Towel (Pvt) Ltd, M/s Friend Export (Pvt) Ltd, M/s Nadeem Enterprises, M/s Unity Freight International and M/s Virani Traders on mis-declaration, fiscal fraud and smuggling of poppy seeds under cover of polyester fabrics export.
According to details, the exporters attempted to export huge quantity of Poppy seeds to Germany in the garb of polyester, cotton and dried printed fabric through two export goods declarations No KEXP-SB-15663 and KEXP-SB-14874 and violated the Section 2(s), 16, 32(1), 32(A) (1), 131 and 178 of the Customs Act, 1969 and punishable under clauses 8(i), (14), 14A, 45, 74, 77 and 86 of the Section 156(I) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with the Serial No.8 of Schedule II of the Export Policy Order 2013-14, Section 3(1) read with Section 3(3) of the Imports & Exports (Control) Act, 1950.
Sources informed Customs Today that exporters tried to export poppy seeds weighting 27.81 metric tons packed in 1119 bags under PCT Heading 1207.9100 costing Rs 2.78 million and 16.72 metric tons of poppy seeds packed in 344 bags valuing Rs 1.67 million in garb of polyester, cotton, dried printed fabric.
The FBR Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation had seized the consignments at KICT, West Wharf and made seizure report accordingly.
Subsequently, the Additional Collector of the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-II after conducting three hearings with the aforementioned parties in his judgment stated that the charges leveled in show-cause notices stand established and imposed three times penalty on the actual amount of Rs 2.78 million and Rs 1.67 million, which makes Rs 8.34 million and Rs 5.01 million respectively.
According to the said ONOs, the exporters must have to deposit Rs 13.35 million to national exchequer.
