KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi on Friday sent a suspect, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, to the Customs Department on physical remand. The suspect was booked for attempting to smuggle more than 14,000 mobile phones in the garb of diplomatic privilege.
It needs to be mentioned here that suspects, Faisal Bin Muhammad, Sheraz Khan and Khan Bahadur, were already in custody of the Customs Department on physical remand.
During the hearing, the investigation officer produced suspect before the court and informed that the prosecution arrested the fourth suspect in this case and needs his physical remand for further investigation and to arrest the remaining suspects. Therefore, the court sent him back to the Customs Department and directed the investigation officer to produce him on the next date of hearing along with other arrested suspects and a progress report.
According to the prosecution, on a credible information, a team of Anti-Smuggling Organization intercepted a container at Chamra Chowrangi and recovered 14295 China branded mobile phones and on the enquiry of suspects, customs department also recovered 594 cartons containing 8296.24 kilograms auto parts from Malta Auto Spare Parts and others goods.
Investigation officer informed that total tentative value of goods is Rs65,517,661 and duty and taxes are involved Rs 30,008,59, imported were brought into the country and claimed under mis-declaration for the port area in the garb of house hold goods under diplomatic privilege claiming admissible exemption thereof.
Case was registered for violation of under section 2 (s) 16, 32 (1) & (2) 32 A, 79, 80 156, (2) 157 and 178 of the customs act, 1969, read with section 3 (1) of the import and export control act, 1990, further read with section 3, 6, 33 and 34 of the sales tax act 1990 and other section and relevant provisions of allied laws.
