KARACHI: The Customs court has issued notices to the special prosecutor for Customs Department and investigation officer on bail application filed by suspects namely Syed Mahmood Khan, son of Syed Abdul Alla and Saleem Shah, son of Muhammad Rafiq, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle betel nuts and other contraband goods.
On Thursday, counsel for the applicants filed bail application and argued that their clients are innocent and were falsely booked in this case and they are ready to face trial; therefore, the court may grant their after-arrest bail.
It needs to be mentioned here that on last hearing, Iftikhar Hussian Khan, Senior Preventive Officer, ASO/HQ, MCC Preventive produced the above-mentioned suspects before the court and informed that the suspects have been arrested on May 25, 2018 on the charges of smuggling of non-duty paid goods, including 23974kg betel nuts valuing at Rs5,657,864, 500kg raisin worth Rs250,000, 400kg pistachio valuing at Rs480,000 and 6480kg tamarind worth Rs1,296,000, being transported in the container no INKU-288550-5 loaded on Hino truck/trailer bearing registration number TMD-513, (Lasbella).
According to the prosecution, the case was registered by Anti-Smuggling Organization (HQ) NMB Wharf, Karachi against the above-mentioned accused for violation of under Section 2 (s), 156 (2), 157 (2), and 178 of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clause 8 & 89 of Section 156 (i) ibid read with Section 3 (i) of Imports and Export Control Act 1950.
