KARACHI: The Customs Court has sent suspects namely Muhammad Javad, son of Muhammad Iqbal; Muhammad Bilal, son of Muhammad Javad, and Durwaish, son of Parast, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle contraband betel nuts to customs luck-up for physical remand.
On Wednesday, Azhar Malik, investigation officer of Anti-Smuggling Organization MCC Preventive produced the above-mentioned suspects along with First Information Report and informed the court that on a credible information, a team of ASO Preventive a Mazda truck bearing registration number JY-5830 near Jodia Market Gulbai. He continued that during the search of Truck, they recovered 120 bags each containing 35kg betel nuts total 4200 kg valuing at Rs971,880 in crushed from Mazda truck. 728 bags each containing 35kg total 25,480kg betel nuts in crushed from recovered from godown valuing at Rs5,896,072. 2500 kilograms each containing 65 kilogram total 162,500 kg betel nuts in whole from recovered from godown valuing to Rs37,602,500.
He further informed the court that total 3348 bags (848 bags of crushed & 2500 bags whole from) weighing 192,180 kilogram valuing 44,470,452 from the accused persons.
He argued that prosecution needs further investigation from them; therefore, court may send them on physical remand for 7 days. After the hearing, the court sent them on physical remand and directed investigation officer to produce them on next date of hearing along with progress report.
The case was registered against them for violation of under Section 2 (s) 156 (2) 157 (2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clause 8 & 89 of Section 156 (1) ibid read with section 3 (1) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950 complainant by Senior Preventive Officer Azhar Malik, Customs House Karachi.
