KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Appraisement West’s Investigation Officer has submitted a statement of complainant against suspect namely Adnan Islam, owner of M/s Adnan International Lahore, owner/partners of M/s Mania Enterprises Karachi and others, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle non-duty paid 5000 kilograms betel nuts and also evaded the duty and taxes in the tune of Rs874,928.
During the hearing, Customs Investigation Officer submitted a statement of complainant Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, Appraising officer of Appraisement West.
“I do hereby state that in pursuance of information about smuggling of betel nuts under the garb of Damar Batu packed in [polypropylene] (PP) bags, he had examined one container imported by M/s Adnan International Lahore, from Malaysia, arrived at Karachi Port. The said consignment was for home consumption, upon physical examination carried out in presence of two independent witnesses the container was found stuffed with Damar Batu packed in pp bags weighing 9880 kilograms approximately & betel nuts packed in pp bags weighing 5000 kilograms approximately, instead of declared weight was found to 5000 kilograms and I seized it under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and a notice in this behalf was served upon the custodian M/s Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT),” said the statement.
“After completion of required formalities, I lodged the FIR of the case in the customs court, the FIR contains all material particulars/information addresses of importer, clearing agent, container numbers, goods declaration number etc, therefore, it may be treated as integral part of this statement of mine”.
On last date of hearing, the investigation officer had submitted interim charge-sheet against suspect namely Adnan Islam, owner of M/s Adnan International Lahore; owner/ partners of M/s Mania Enterprises Karachi Muhammad Aslam, son of Muhammad Islam; Habib Khan, son of Karim Dad Khan; Mohsin Islam, son of Muhammad Islam and other to be ascertained during the investigation and submitted that on a credible information, under the self-assessment system of WeBOC by M/s Adnan International, Akbari Mandi Lahore through their clearing agent M/s Mania Enterprises said to contain 300 bags of Damar Batu having total weight 15000 kilograms. The automated Risk Management System of WeBOC selected the said goods for examination.
He further informed the court that during the examination, goods were found mis-declared and contrary to the declaration, and goods found on physical examination are 100 bags of betel nuts having total weight of 5000 kilograms were also found in the container besides 9880 kilograms Damar Batu.
Investigation officer said that it is established beyond any iota of doubt that said suspects have attempt to clear the impugned goods which was restricted item under the garb of Damar Batu and evaded the amount of Rs874, 928 to the national exchequer, therefore, said goods were seized and case was registered against them.
According to the interim charge sheet, accused Adnan Islam, owner of M/s Adnan International Lahore, Habib Khan and Mohsin Islam are still absconders in this case.
