KARACHI: Cell phones worth millions of rupees reportedly went missing from the “sub-grill” of Air Freight Unit (AFU) of Pakistan Customs at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.
Sources informed Customs Today that the Air Fright Unit of Pakistan Customs had seized the imported cell phones worth millions of rupees during customs check at the airport from different passengers some 6 months ago. Later, the AFU officials kept the boxes of confiscated cell phones at its “sub-grill”.
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Subsequently, the affected parties moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) for releasing their cell phones. The SHC issued orders to the authorities concerned of Pakistan Customs to release the seized cell phones after receiving duty tax and fine penalty.
The parties after submitting the tax duty and fine penalty reached at the AFU to get their consignments; however, they found that cartons of cell phones were empty.
When contacted, one of the senior officers of Pakistan Customs at AFU informed this scribe that a one-member committee comprising Deputy Collector AFU administration has been constituted to investigate the said incident.
To a query, he confirmed this scribe that the cell phones were seized by the officials of Pakistan Customs at JIAP some 6 months ago and kept in the warehouse/godown of the airport.
Responding to a query, AFU senior officer further said that the inquiry would be finalised in two days and the entire situation would be cleared till Monday.
He further said that some cartons of seized cell phones have already been found from the stock and other missing boxes of mobile phones will be recovered soon.
To another query, the senior officer of AFU could not ascertain the actual quantity and cost of missing cell phones.
