KARACHI: The Customs Court extended physical remand of suspects Juma Gul son of Abdullah and Noor Ahmed son of Gul Muhammad and sent back them to customs department, who are involved in a case of attempting to smuggle 5000 kgs betel nuts valuing Rs1,400,000.
On January 2, 2018, investigation officer of Customs Preventive produced the above-mentioned suspects before the court and informed that on an actionable information, customs officials intercepted a Hino mini truck bearing registration no: PT-0323 near Maripur Road which was being used for transportation of foreign origin smuggled/non duty paid betel nuts under the cover load of apples, arriving from Quetta to Karachi.
He further submitted that during the search of said truck, customs team found 200 crates each containing 25 kilograms foreign origin betel nuts total 5000 kilograms, under the cover load of crates of apples and 180 crates of apple (local) weighing 3240 kilograms used as cover load to camouflage the smuggled betel nuts.
He said that prosecution needs further interrogate from them, therefore, court may send them back to customs department on physical remand. After the hearing, the court extended their physical remand and directed customs officials to produce them before the court on next date of hearing along with progress report.
The case was registered for violation of under Section 2 (s) 156(2) and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clauses 89 of Section 156 (1) ibid read with Section 3 (1) of Import & Export Control Act, 1950.
