ISLAMABAD: Customs Appellate Tribunal Bench-II has released 6300 kilograms of Indian Black Pepper which was termed as confiscated by customs department.
The appeal was filed by Kashif Skinadar and 23 others appellants through their counsel Raja Gulfraz Ahmed. The petitioners had challenged order, dated September 30, 2015, passed by Additional Collector Customs (Adjudication), Islamabad, who has ordered confiscation of imported Black Pepper.
Tribunal’s Member Judicial, Muhammad Maqsood ul Hassan heard the case decided on the first day of hearing.
The judge not only released the item which was admitted as non-notified, not banned items, but also imposed a personal penalty of Rs 25,000 per appellant in order to discourage import of non-notified items, the judgment stated.
The judge stated: “I am inclined to release the confiscated goods, i.e. Pooja Brand Indian Black Pepper to the rightful owners (appellants) on payment of duty and taxes plus 20 percent redemption.”
It is pertinent to mention that truck loaded with Black Pepper was intercepted by the customs department officials in Islamabad jurisdiction which was coming from Kashmir. Later on, the goods were confiscated by the customs authorities.
