KARACHI: The Customs Court sent suspects namely Juma Gul, son of Abdullah, and Noor Ahmed, son of Gul Muhammad, who are involved in a case of attempting to smuggle 5000-kilogram betel nuts worth Rs1,400,000, to customs preventive lock-up on physical remand.
On December 26, 2018, investigation officer produced above-mentioned suspect before the court and informed that on an actionable information, customs officials intercepted a Hino mini truck bearing registration no PT-0323 near Maripur Road which was being used for transportation of foreign-origin smuggled/non-duty paid betel nuts under the cover load of apples which is arriving from Quetta to Karachi.
He further submitted that during the search of said truck, customs team found 200 crates each containing 25 kilogram foreign-origin betel nuts total 5000 kilogram, under the cover load of crates of apples and 180 crates of apple (local) weighing 3240 kilogram were used to camouflage the smuggled betel nuts.
He said that prosecution needs further investigations from them, therefore, court may send them back to customs department on physical remand. After hearing, the court granted their physical remand and directed customs officials to produce them before the court on next date of hearing along with progress report.
The case was registered for violation of under Section 2 (s) 156(2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clauses 89 of Section 156 (1) ibid read with Section 3 (1) of Import & Export Control Act, 1950.
