ISLAMABAD: Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Dr Kaukab Farooq has released the 609 kilogramme of cotton cloth on payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon plus a redemption fine equivalent to 30 percent of the appraised value.
She also ordered to release the offending vehicle Toyota Corolla car against a fine of Rs 30,000. The total value of foreign cloth has been estimated at Rs 287,000.
According to details, Customs Preventive staff received credible information that an attempt would be made to smuggle cloth from Nowshera through Toyata Corolla car bearing Registration No. IDC-5880. To check the authenticity of the information in hand, a raiding party held check post at Attock Toll Plaza GT Road, and intercepted the said vehicle.
A detailed search of the aforementioned vehicle led to recovery of 609kg cloth. At the time of occurrence, driver of the vehicle named Subhan Ali and another person, Muhammad Riaz claimed the ownership of cloth.
On demand, they failed to produce any documentary evidence or otherwise, showing legal import or lawful possession of the recovered cloth. There were reasons to believe that the recovered cloth had been brought into the country in violation of Section 2(s) and 16 of the customs Act 1969.
Prior to the issuance of show cause notice, the owners of cloth submitted an application for the release of recovered cloth and requested that they are ready to pay the duty and taxes leviable.
Dr Kaukab adjudicated the case and said in his order-in-original (ONO) that respondent have failed to provide valid legal documents regarding the lawful import of seized cloth, it means that the cloth was non-duty paid.
Moreover, the respondent namely as Subhan Ali owner of 309kg cloth and his appraised value is Rs 146,002, and Muhammad Riaz owner of 300 kg cloth and his seized goods appraised value is Rs 141,750.
Keeping in view the fact that the individual ownership value of cloth is less than Rs 1,50,000, which is less than the statuary limit.
The ONO further states, “A lenient view is taken and option is granted to the rightful owners to redeem the same on payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon plus a fine 30 percent of the appraised value of seized cloth. Regarding the offending vehicle the seized cloth was not found concealed in any specially designed cavities of the said vehicle. I order for release the aforementioned vehicle against a penalty of Rs 30,000”.
