FAISALABAD: The Model Customs Collectorate has detected tax evasion of Rs 964,086 allegedly by M/s Aqsa Traders through mis-declaration of quantity and description of goods imported under consignment No SEGU-447364-9.
Following information received through Faisalabad Customs Collector Dr Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhary, a team of Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO), under the supervision of Deputy Collector Pirzada Omar Qasmi, raided the Faisalabad Dry Port.
The team comprising Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya, Inspector Masood Saeed Chohan, Rai Waqar Ahmed, Rai Khalid Javed, Khalid Ashraf Noor, Ali Zahid and others intercepted a trailer bearing Registration No MNF-8987 along with two Mazda Mini Truck carrying consignment of M/s Aqsa traders. The consignment was consisting of packing machine, air compressor with tank piston type, exhaust fans, condensing unit, cutting off saw machine, ball bearing, heating elements, wiper motor auto, ladies hand bags, LED lights with fixture, electric power supply, electric cable, ride on plastic, reduction gear industrial and other items.
After intercepting the consignment, Superintendent Saeed Akhtar Joiya conducted physical re-examination of the consignment and found mis-declaration in weight and description of various items.
The importer cleared the consignment on the payment of Rs 2.166 million, while actual amount of taxes was assessed at Rs 3.13 million. So, the officials found a difference of Rs 964,086 in wake of duty and taxes.
It may mention here that Deputy Superintendent Anwar Pervaiz, Appraisers Irfan Idrees and Babar Hussain conducted examination of the consignment at the time of clearance. The collector has issued off-duty letters against the officials on misconduct.
The customs contravention reports states, “This act of the importer constitutes an offence within the meaning of Section 16, 18, 32(1) & (2) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with the Section 3 of Sales Tax, 1990 section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 read with 3(1)3 of the Import and Export Control Act 1950 punishable under clause 9,14,43 and 45 of section 156(1), read with section 178 of the Custom Act 1969 further read with Clause (g) of the preamble of SRO 499(1)/2009 and Section 3 of the Punjab infrastructure Development Cess Act, 2015”.
The report has been sent to the Customs Adjudication and the collectorate has also issued show-cause notice to the importer in this regard.
