KARACHI: Customs Collectorate Appraisement East apprehends another huge quantity of betal nuts consignment worth millions of rupees.
According to the details, after introduction of additional health and safety requirements by the Government on import of betel nuts, unscrupulous elements are using illicit means to smuggle betel nuts in the garb of miscellaneous goods through mis-declaration.
Under the supervision of the Collector Saeed Akram, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement (East) Karachi is endeavoring hard to curb these elements for the safety of general public, Research & Development (R&D)’s team comprising ofMuhammad Ali Malik-Deputy Collector. Dost Muhammad-Principal Appraiser and other Appraising Officers have sufficiently improved level of deterrence against crime. Moreover, Risk Management System (RMS) of WeBOC has also been improved to foil such evil attempts of criminals.
A consignment comprising of 2×40′ containers no. GATU8317984 & TINU9203481 imported by M/s Best Hope Enterprise, Karachi (NTN: 2452419) from Singapore was lying at South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT). Keamari, Karachi.
The importers themselves filed a Goods Declaration No. KAPE-HC-159719-09-03-2018 for clearance thereof, declaring description of the imported goods as “54 Metric Ton Turmeric Finger”. The GD was marked for physical examination through WeBOC’s selectivity criteria. Detailed examination carried out jointly by AO (R&D) and AO(SAPT) under the supervision of the Assistant Collector (SAPT)
Muhammad Hamza Lak resulted into recovery of 9800 Kgs Betel Nuts from Ix40′ container No. GATU8317984 being cleared in the garb of “Turmeric Finger”.
Rest of the consignment contains 44200 Kgs “Turmeric Finger”. The consignment has accordingly been seized under proper Musheer Nama prepared on the spot. Preliminary inquiry revealed that M/s Best Hope Enterprise, Karachi have imported the impugned consignment from Singapore declaring description of the goods as “54 Metric Ton Turmeric Finger”.
They tried to get clearance of 9800 kilogram “betel nuts” concealed in the imported “Turmeric Finger”. Open market value of the seized betel nuts is around Rs. 24.50 Million while duties & taxes tried to be evaded are calculated as more than Rs 2.00 million. Necessary legal formalities are being completed for initiating criminal proceedings against the importer and their associates.
