KARACHI: Under supervision of Director Irfan Javed, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) seized 1880 bags weighing 78.8 MT of foreign origin smuggled/non-duty paid betel nuts worth Rs157.64 million.
According to the details, Director Irfan Javed received specific information that huge quantity of foreign origin smuggled/non-duty paid betel nuts (Areca) nuts unfit for human consumption are being transported to Karachi and being duped in a godown located at SITE area, Karachi.
A team of anti-smuggling staff under the supervision of the superintendent anti-smuggling was deputed to carry out surveillance and identified the exact location of the premises where these smuggled goods were being stocked. It took about three days for the ASO team to identify and locate the exact address which was at Industrial Park, Small Industrial & Trading Estate, within the jurisdiction of PS SITE (B)< Karachi. Accordingly, statement regarding grounds of belief and of the goods in terms of section 163 of the customs act, 1989 was prepared and authorization was given for search of the premises.
Search of the godown on 9.1.2019 led to the recovery of 1880 bags of betel nuts weighing 78.7 MT. It was further discovered that machinery was installed within the premises for cutting of betel nuts and the same was being supplied to different parts of Karachi.
Accordingly, the recovered smuggled/unfit for human consumption betel nuts have been seized and shifted to the State Warehouse, SITE, Karachi. Market value of the recovered goods is Rs157.64 million approximately. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the smuggled betel nuts are transported up-country from Baluchistan and subsequently, the same are routed back to Karachi.
Further investigation into the matter underway.
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