KARACHI: The Customs Court approved bail of six suspects, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle foreign origin betel nuts, cigarettes, cloths and gutka, and directed jail authorities to release them after submitting surety amounts.
On September 29, 2018, counsels for the suspects namely Malook son of Khero, Muhammad Naeem son of Habibullah, Khan Bismillah Khan son of Muhammad Naeem Khan, Hayatullah son of Abdul Ghafar, Zainuddin son of Badin Khan and Saeed son of Gul Hassan filed bail petitions and argued that their clients are innocents and are ready to face trial; therefore, the court may grant their bail till final judgment of this case.
After the hearing, court granted them bail and directed them to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, on an actionable information and strict instructions of MCC, Hyderabad issued to the department and in view of the closed coordination and joint operation with other law enforcement agencies on September 11, the team of ASO, Sukkur intercepted six trucks bearing registration nos: TKM-096, LOT-5682, TKF-617, TKJ-739, E-7845 and TKD-954 loaded with smuggled foreign-origin betel nuts, cigarettes, cloths and gutka.
As per FIR, during the search, ASO team recovered 12915 kg betel nuts and 400 kg bhoosa from TKM-096, 12220 kg betel nuts, 1465 kg One 2 One gutka, made in UAE and 1190 kg bhoosa from LOT-5682, 18095 kg betel nuts, 3030 kg cloths from TKF-617, 20785 kg betel nuts, 340 kg bhoosa from TKJ-739, 13845 kg betel nuts, 18 carton Pine Cigarettes made in Korea, 1760 kg One 2 One made in UAE and J & D gutka made in India from E-7845, 15030 kg betel nuts and 390 kg bhoosa from TKD-954.
He said that total involved duty and taxes of betel nuts are Rs4,862,647 and bhoosa Rs3,701,280; therefore, customs officials seized the goods and after arresting the above mentioned accused persons lodged FIR.
