KARACHI: The Customs Court re-issued non-bail able warrants against absconding suspect namely Muhammad Sarfaraz Manka son of Muhammad Zakariya and directed investigation officer to arrest and produce him on next date of hearing, who was booked in a 20, 870 kg betel nuts smuggling case.
On August 5, 2019, investigation officer submits that the above mentioned suspect is still absconder and prosecution is trying its best for his arrest, therefore, court may grant further time to arrest him.
According to the interim charge sheet, a considerable quantity of smuggled foreign origin betel nuts were secreted in a godown situated at plot no F-204 Mills Area, Super Highway, Karachi and would likely be removed from that premises shortly, on that information, customs team visited that premises and found 260 pp bags containing foreign origin betel nuts, each bag weighing 76 kgs and 30 pp bags containing foreign origin betel nuts, each bag weighing 37 kgs total 20,870 kilograms worth Rs4,295,046.
As per FIR, after the formalities, customs team seized all goods and during the investigation, no one came forward to claim the ownership of goods so recovered from the premises neither any documents to substantiate the lawful import/ procurement/ purchase and storage of foreign origin goods was produced.
According to the prosecution, case was registered for violation of under section 2 (s) (15) (16) of the customs act 1969 punishable under clause (89) of section 156 (i) ibid read with Section 156 (2) of the Customs Act, 1969 further read with Section 3 (1) of Imports & Export Control Act, 1950.
