KARACHI: The Customs Court sent suspect Muhammad Rashid son of Fazal-ur-Rehman, representative of M/s Al-Asghar Goods Transport Co Karachi to customs lock-up on physical remand, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 15,000 kg monosodium glutamate (Ajinomoto salt).
On 11 February 2020, Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) produced the above mentioned suspect before the court and informed that an information was received to the effect that foreign origin smuggled monosodium glutamate (Ajinomoto salt) which is hazardous for health and the Supreme Court of Pakistan has banned its sales, import into the country, had arrived from Quetta and dumped/ secreted at the godown of M/s Pak International Goods Transport Co, West Wharf Road Karachi for further shifting within the city area.
He further submitted that the ASO team reached at M/s Al Asghar Goods Transport Co, Qaid-e-Azam Truck Stand, Hawks Bay Road Karachi and recovered 600pp bags containing monosodium glutamate (Ajinomoto salt) bearing marks as Linghua made in China, each pp bag containing 25 kg, total 15,000 kg valuing of Rs6,000,000 (tentative).
Investigation officer said that during the search, above mentioned suspect was asked to produce lawful documents of said goods, however, he failed to produce any lawful documents, therefore, he was arrested and goods were seized by the customs officials, he stated that prosecution needs further investigation from said accused for arrest of other financiers, abettors & abettors & others (to be ascertained during investigation), therefore, court may send him back to customs department.
After the hearing, court approved his physical remand and directed investigation to produce him on next date of hearing along with progress report.
According to the prosecution case was registered against them for violation under section 2(s) 32, 121, 128 & 178 of the customs act, 1969 punishable under clauses 8, 14, 63, 64, 89, 90 of section 156(i) ibid.
