KARACHI: Customs Court directed investigation office to complete investigation and submit final charge-sheet against suspect namely Iqbal Hyat Paracha, owner of M/s Balochistan Enterprises Karachi, who was booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 27,170-kilogram betel nuts in the garb of wax granules.
On Saturday, investigation officer appeared before the court and sought further time to file final charge-sheet against the above-mentioned suspect. After hearing, the court granted time and directed him to submit final challan on next date of hearing. The court also directed suspect to appear before the court on next date of hearing who is also on bail.
Earlier, investigation officer produced First Information Report (FIR) No 05/2018 before the court and informed that on credible information, officials of the customs department intercepted a consignment destined for Quetta, at Qasim International Container Terminal Karachi (QICT) which was going to be gated out un-examined. The goods were imported and transshipment goods declaration were filed by M/s Balochistan Enterprises by mis-declaration therein goods as wax granules.
He submitted that QICT’s staff, shipper’s seal of the container was removed and examination process started by the undersigned jointly with the AO-CIU, and during examination, the goods were found as betel nuts net weight 2717 kilogram, origin not shown, instead of the ones declared by the importers in the Goods Declaration (GDs).
Investigation officer further said that during the preliminary inquiry into the matter, it was revealed that the importers do not have a valid import permit, valid certificate and release order of the Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of National Food Security and Research to import the recovered betel nuts as compulsorily required in terms of serial no 221 of part-III of Appendix-B to the IPO, 2016. On contrary, the importer tried to get clearance of the above-mentioned restricted item though mis-declaration in serious violation of the mandatory provisions of law and procedure.
He submitted that it is established that the importers M/s Balochistan Enterprises along with other accomplices have deliberately mid-declared description of the impugned goods from replacement thereof with other ones en route to the final destination, with the intent to get illegal clearance of the restricted item.
