KARACHI: The Customs Court approved interim charge sheet against suspects namely Asghar Khan son of Abdul Ghaffar and Shah Jahan son of Rahmat Shah, who were arrested in the first information report (FIR) for smuggling of contraband goods into Pakistan.
On 23 February 2021, investigation officer submitted interim charge sheet against the above mentioned suspects and informed the court that intelligence unit of model customs collectorate received a tip-off that smuggled/ non-duty paid betel nuts are being transported from Lahore through a truck having fake registration number plate no LSB-2065 via National Highway and as per directions by the competent authority, a team of ASO was constituted to foil the attempt of smuggling of non-duty paid/ smuggled betel nuts.
He further informed the court that team intercepted the same and during the search, recovered foreign origin betel nuts crushed containing 80 kattas weighing 2,000 kg valuing of Rs22,00,000 and after the search, above mentioned suspects were asked to produce lawful documents, however, they failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, after the formalities, customs officials seized the goods along with vehicle and suspects also were taken into customs custody.
After the hearing, the court approved the charge sheet and also issued notice to the customs department on bail applications filed by above mentioned suspects for next date of hearing, court also calls police papers from the investigation officer of the case.
