KARACHI: The investigation officer of Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) on Saturday submitted an interim charge sheet before the customs court against suspects, Muhammad Shoaib Arshad, owner of M/s City Steel UAE Mills (Private) Limited, Muhammad Arshad, owner of M/s AF Enterprises, Muhammad Tariq, Sohrab Khan, Amjad Khan and others, in a betel nuts smuggling case.
During the hearing, investigation officer submitted the interim charge sheet against suspects and informed the court that an ASO team found two containers near Shan Chowrangi, Korani Road, Karachi. The drivers showed documents of 14 containers, including the two containers, which were cleared from Customs Port Qasim.
The investigation officer further informed the court that during the search the officials recovered 80,025kg betel nuts worth Rs 200 million from six containers. He said the goods were allegedly imported in the garb of waste and cast iron scrap.
He said that during the investigation, is has been established beyond any iota of doubt that said suspects in collusion with other accomplices in crime have indulged smuggling of above mentioned contraband betel nuts under the garb of waste and scrap of iron and cleared under HS Code 7204.4100. Hence they have, individually and collectively violated the provisions of section customs laws.
According to the charge sheet suspect Habibullah Khan son of Malik Muhammad Akbar, Muhammad Imran son of Muhammad Yaqoob, Amjad Khan son of Munsif Khan are in custody, however, Muhammad Shoaib Arshad, Director of M/s City Steel UAE Mills is on bail.
As per charge sheet Ismail Kaloodi son of Abdul Kaloodi, Abdullah Kaloodi son of Abdul Shakoor Kaloodi, Muhammad Nasir allies Dhood Dati son of Taj Muhammad, Muhammad Arshad son of Muhammad Bashir, proprietor of M/s A.F Enterprises, Muhammad Asad son of Muhammad Arshad, director of M/s City Steel UAE Mills, Abdul Rahim Abdul Abdullah Merdas son of Abdul Abdullah Merdas, Faisal Abdul Rahim Ahmed Abdullah son of Abdul Abdullah Merdas and Aqil son of Muhammad Yaseen are still absconders in the case.
