KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Appraisement West investigation officer submitted interim charge sheet against suspect namely Faisal Shakeel, owner of M/s Sualeha Textile and others, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 209,540 kilograms betel nuts.
On October 11, 2018, investigation officer informed in charge sheet that a credible information was received that importer M/s Sualeha Textile Industries and others were involved in a scam of illegal import of betel nuts in collusion with the clearing agents, customs officials and other facilitators and on that information, officials of the customs department visited spot and found all four containers were stuffed with betel nuts 34100 kilogram goods was found pressed bundle scrap which had been stacked in front of containers to conceal the betel nuts stuffed behind them.
He further submitted that during the initial investigation, it is established beyond any iota of doubt that the, in collusion with other accomplices, aiders and abettors have attempted to clear the impugned consignments comprising of betel nuts which were otherwise restricted items as per import policy order in vogue and included in the list of smuggled items, revenue loss on the seized goods has been quantified as Rs46,089,024, the market value of the offending goods has been estimated to be Rs240,000,000 as per prevailing market.
Further stated that case was registered against Faisel Shakeel, owner of M/s Sualeha Textile Industries, Muhammad Zakir, owner of M/s M.Z Enterprises, proprietors and directors of clearing agent M/s Jawad Zubair, Pervaiz Ejaz son of Ahmed Sher, clearing agent of M/s Pervez Ejaz Associates, Rana Fareed, employee of M/s Pervez Ejaz Associates, Muhammad Shahid Murad son of Murad Ali, appraiser, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement, Najeeb Abid son of Abid Hussain, appraiser, Customs Collectorate of Appraisement, proprietors and directors of M/s Ansa International, proprietors and directors of M/s Mirza Corporation and others.
He argued that only one suspect Muhammad Shahid Murad, Appraising officer, Appraisement West has arrested, and however, others are still absconders.
