SLAMABAD: The Anti-Smuggling Organization Islamabad took into possession the bananas along with an offending vehicle worth Rs1.7million and sold the seized bananas in an auction just after two hours of seizure.
According to Collector Saeed Khan Jadoon that, on a tip-off forwarded by Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad Dr. Arslan, the ASO intercepted a Hino truck coming from Azad Jummu and Kashmir (AJK).
The ASO asked the possessors to show the documents as a legal proof of the loaded bananas but they failed to prove anything legal. The possessors told the ASO staff that they do business of fruit in Indian held Kashmir through Pak-India Wagha border.
In response to the arguments of the possessors of bananas, the ASO staff told them they must have paid duties and taxes before crossing the border whereas the possessors were unable to provide Goods Declaration (GD) so the ASO staff impounded the bananas along with the offending vehicle.
The goods were brought to the state warehouse and the bananas were auctioned off against Rs0.8million. The impounded truck will be auctioned after the completion of other departmental formalities. The value of the Mazda truck bearing registration No: EA-1625 was appraised at Rs1.00million.
An FIR has been lodged against the tax evaders. The ASO staffers, participating in the execution of the operation, comprise Abdul Maalak, Superintendent, Inspector Asif Mehmood, and other supporting staff of class IV.
