FAISALABAD: The Customs Adjudication has declared the confiscation of 22,000 kilogram of polyethylene and a truck as outright while issuing an order-in-original (ONO) in favour of Pakistan Customs.
As per details, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation following credible information intercepted a truck bearing Registration No. C-1541 near Shahpur, Sargodha. The team searched the vehicle and recovered 880 bags of high density polyethylene with total weight of 22,000.
The officials asked the driver, named Khana Gul resident of Peshawar to produce the documents regarding the legal import of the recovered items but he could not do the same. Therefore, the customs took the vehicle and items into custody and served a show cause notice upon the accused person, besides forwarding the case to the adjudication.
The counsel, Hassan Shakir appeared on behalf of the respondents and produced copies of sales tax invoices issued by the suppliers before the court. The invoices were handed over to the departmental representative for reconciliation/verification. The counsel further argued that the seized goods were purchased by the respondents from the importer who legally imported these goods and the presented documents are genuine.
On the other hand, Investigation Officer Farzand Ali appeared from the side of customs and reiterated the charges levelled against the respondent, adding that the respondent has failed to establish a genuine link between importer and himself with reference to this transaction.
The respondent has further not been able to bring any other documentary proof of their transaction i.e. sales tax returns or relevant payment proofs. The investigation officer further said that failure to do so establish that the seized goods are smuggled.
After hearing the arguments, the adjudication ordered for outright confiscation of the seized goods along with container and carrier vehicles in favour of the federal government under Section 156(1)89 of the Custom Act, 1969.
