KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation recovered 1584 bottles of foreign whisky from consignment declared to contain food stuff imported by Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Algeria, Islamabad.
According to the details, Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation Irfan Javed received credible information regarding smuggling of liquor in the garb of diplomatic goods. The Directorate blocked a number of consignments in March, 2019 imported by the Embassies of Indonesia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon after clearance from the relevant Customs Collectorate. Headquarters was requested vide various correspondences to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nominating its representative for conducting joint examinations.
The Ministry vide letter no: U.O.P. (IV)-5/28/EC/2019 dated May 22, 2019 only nominated its representative for joint examination of Indonesian Embassy consignment imported vide GD No. KAPW-PP=135608, dated 16.3.2019.
It resulted in recovery of 1080 bottles of whisky (600 bottles “Black Label” and 480 bottles “Chivas Regal”) which did not contain any food stuff at all. Headquarter was again requested vide Customs I&I letter no. C.No. 674-Appg-II/DCI/Snap Checking/2018/4442 dated 10.10.2019 requesting therein to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send representatives of respective embassies during the examination on 22.10.2019 as considerable time has lapsed and the matter cannot be left pending indefinitely.
The consignment imported by Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Algeria, Islamabad cleared vide GD No. KAPW-PP-131672-27.3.2019 from Appraisement West Karachi had been blocked by the Directorate on information of comprising contraband goods.
The consignment was said to contain food stuff. However, examination conducted on 22.10.2019 at BOML Terminal, West Wharf, Karachi resulted in recovery of 1584 bottles of blended Scotch Whisky (384 bottles of Chivas regal, 600 bottles of Johny Walker Black Label and 600 and 600 Jony Walker Black Label) in (3) worth Rs13,872,000/-.
It did not contain any food stuff at all. Accordingly, the consignment being liable to confiscation has been seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and further proceedings are underway.
