KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Preventive Investigation Officer Saddam Hussain submitted interim charge-sheet against suspects namely Habibullah son of Qadir Bux, Sheikh Aamir son of Shahabuddin and others, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 21,680 kilogram betel nuts.
On August 15, 2018, investigation officer submitted interim challan and informed that on actionable spot information was received to the effect that a considerable quantity of non-duty paid foreign origin betel nuts has been dumped at a godown situated at plot no B-9 SITE, Karachi which was brought there under the garb of bitumen (dammar) loaded drums and removed from that premises. Pursuant to the said information, a customs team was constituted which was headed by deputy collector of customs Headquarter-I, Karachi to conduct the raid and search accordingly.
He informed the court that team reached the above mentioned location and recovered huge quantity of jute bags containing betel nuts, lose quantity of betel nuts mixed with bitumen (dammar) in some drums and empty drums of bitumen.
Investigation officer further informed that after recovered said goods, owner of the godown was asked to produce lawful documents of said goods, however, he failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, after formalities, Sheikh Aamir was arrested and said goods also was seized by the customs officials.
According to the interim charge-sheet, owner of the seized betel nuts, Habibullah, is still absconder in this case and prosecution is trying its best for his arrest.
According to the FIR, case was registered against above mentioned suspects for violation of under Section 2 (s) 156 (2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clauses 8 & 89 of Section 156 (1) ibid read with Section 3 (1) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950.
