FAISALABAD: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation field unit FIU Sargodha intelligence recovered huge quantity of mis-declared goods loaded on a truck under the garb of iron scrap worth Rs20 millions involving customs duty and taxes of Rs 6.7 million. Besides they impounded a carrier truck worth Rs 3.5 million under section 157(2) of the Customs act 1969 which was used for smuggling.
According to details, Deputy Director Rana Irfan Shoukat received information from credible sources that huge quantity of copper scrap and other aluminum goods will be smuggled through jurisdiction. Deputy Director alerted his staff and formed special team comprising inspector Syed Qaswar Shah and others to thwart the attempt.
Customs Intelligence team enhanced patrolling of different routes of field investigation FIU unit Sargodha to intercept them by deputing staff at entry points. Customs teams intercepted suspected Hino truck displaying registration number TKR-417 Quetta loaded with scrap items near Jhal Chakian Sargodha Road during their patrolling. Said truck was loaded with huge quantity of used f/o aluminum and different iron goods.
Truck was coming from Karachi and its final destination was Lahore city. Driver of the truck Ajmal Khan son of Haji Muhammad resident of Quetta having CNIC number 54201-53453877 was asked to produce import documents of recovered goods. He produced documents of bilty no. 009499 dated 22-08-2019 in the name of Toofan Khan Al Hassan goods Quetta, owner Sailab Khan GD No CLCS-HC-274 dated 20-08-2019 showing clearance of iron and remeltable scrap. The smuggled goods had to be transported to Lahore via Sargodha.
As there was no proper arrangement of thorough search so the loaded truck was brought into the office of FIU Customs Intelligence Sargodha. Driver of the vehicle failed to present import documents to Customs Intelligence and Investigation staff and Customs teams took the said goods in their custody and seized said goods along with truck after framing seizure report.
Subsequently it was established the importer and clearing agent hoodwinked the customs staff at Karachi station and attempted to deprive the national exchequer by way of mis-declaration of description and quantity of goods. Further investigation against seized goods owner is underway.
