ISLAMABAD: The ASO Islamabad took into possession fresh Indian origin bananas DK-Tiger brand along with an offending vehicle worth Rs1.122million and sold them in an auction just after two hours of seizure due to its perishable status.
According to details explained by Assistant Collector Majid Hussain Gadd that, on a tip-off given by Saeed Khan Jadoon, Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad, the ASO intercepted a Mazda truck bearing registration No: MNN-2886 coming from Azad Jummu Kashmir (AJK). The ASO staff asked the possessors to show the documents as legal proof of the loaded bananas but they failed to provide anything lawful. In response to the arguments of the possessors of bananas, the ASO staff told them that they must have paid duties and taxes before crossing the border whereas the possessors were unable to provide Goods Declaration (GD) so the ASO staff impounded the bananas along with the offending vehicle and shifted the fruit and vehicle to the SWH.
The item was brought to the state warehouse and auctioned off against Rs0.8million. The impounded truck was auctioned after the completion of other required departmental formalities. The value of the Mazda truck was appraised at Rs0.8million.
An FIR has been lodged against the tax evaders. The ASO staffers, taking part in the operation, comprised Sohail Kureish and Junaid Ahmad, Superintendent, Inspector, Abdul Hafeez and other supporting staff of class IV.
