KARACHI: The Customs authorities have unearthed a mega scandal of duties and tax evasion in which a racket smuggled hundreds of tons menthol under the garb of synthesize mint oil and flavor, Customs Today has learnt.
Sources said that Chief Collector Collectorate Appraisement South Abdul Rasheed Shaikh and Collector MCC Port Qasim Saeed Akram came to know that a network of importers and clearing agents were busy in clearing menthol under the garb of synthesize mint oil and flavor which was causing loss to governmental exchequer in millions of rupees.
Collector Saeed Akram also took keen interest in busting the racket and deputed some experts for investigating the matter. In the meantime, an importer and clearing agent company, M/s Alliance International, allegedly tried to clear menthol in heavy quantity through Port Qasim under the garb of synthesize mint oil and flavor.
Initially, the duties and taxes were less than Rs 1 million but the re-examined of the item revealed over Rs 10 million taxes had to be paid.
According to the sources, the consignments of the said importer have been withheld and further investigations are underway to ascertain how many such consignments were cleared in the past and who was involved in the clearing process.
Further, is has been said that the network has been filing the GDs for clearing menthol by using different names and this tactics of changing names helped the racket in its purpose.
