KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) suspended an order passed by Custom Appellate Tribunal (CAT) for release of 86760 kilograms of betel nuts allegedly smuggled into country.
According to details, Pakistan Customs anti-smuggling squad raided a gowdown General Services Gowdown located in SITE area of Karachi and found 1050 jute bags stacked in.
During detailed examination, 86760 kilogram betel nuts unfit for human consumption were recovered. Arman Alam of M/s Oud Food Products attempted to give legal cover of importation to the allegedly smuggled goods having a worth of Rs.102 million.
The goods were seized against which an application was filed. The competent authority passed Order in Original (ONO) upholding charges raised in the Show Cause Notice. The Appellate authority maintained the Order in Original against which an Appeal was preferred before the Custom Appellate Tribunal which ordered the release of betel nuts.
The department assailed the order in SCRA. The SHC bench after hearing Khalid Mehmood Rajper, counsel for Pakistan Customs, Directorate of Intelligence & Investigations suspended the order passed by the tribunal and issued notices to the respondent/importer. The office of the court will fix the date for next hearing.
