KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Anti-smuggling Organisation (ASO) has recovered huge quantity of smuggled dry fruits from a container laden on a vehicle near Hawksbay, Karachi. The market value of seized dry fruits is Rs175 million in international market.
Sources told Customs Today that information was passed through Collector Basit Abbasi to Additional Collector Amanullah Tareen regarding movement of smuggled goods. Acting upon the information, Customs team under the supervision of Assistant Collector Aman Sadid spotted a container laden on a vehicle in Hawksbay, Karachi.
The team found that de-stuffing of the contents of the container into a godown managed by M/s. National Goods Transporting Company was already underway. Scrutiny of the half-emptied container was initiated forthwith whereas a search warrant was executed simultaneously for search of the godown.
A cursory search revealed presence of American origin almonds. Vietnamese cashew nuts, Iranian unable to substantiate lawful title in respect of the same and since there were reasonable grounds to believe that the same had been smuggled into the country without payment of duties / taxes. The goods were taken into custody and shifted to the customs warehouse for a thorough examination.
The value of the seized goods comes to Rs175 million while the leviable taxes are Rs111 million. The goods have been seized and a case is lodged for further investigation.
