KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi on Tuesday sent suspects, Salahuddin and Abdul Hadi, to Central Jail Karachi on judicial remand in a betel nuts smuggling case.
During the hearing, investigation officer of the Customs Department produced the suspects before the court and informed that customs authorities intercepted Hino passenger bus Al-Mahmood Coach bearing registration number BSA-407 near Choke Point at Moachko Karachi and recovered 45,000 kilograms betel nuts worth Rs 11.25 million.
He further informed the court that the suspects were asked to produce lawful documents of betel nuts, but they failed after which the authorities arrested the suspects after registering a case against them.
He further informed the court that during the investigation, it has been established beyond any iota of doubt that said suspect in collusion with other accomplices in crime have indulged in smuggling of above mentioned contraband betel nuts with the intention to get illegal disposal of the restricted items also evading legitimate amount of duties and, they have, thus, contravened provision of section 2 (s) 16, 32A, and 79 of the Customs Act, 1969 punishable under clauses 1,8 (i), 9, 14 A, 45 & 46 of section ibid read with allied laws and procedure and consequent upon approval of the competent authority, this First Information Report (FIR) is lodged accordingly for in-depth investigation into the matter.
Investigation officer argued that prosecution needs further investigations from them and arrest the absconder suspect namely Fida Muhammad driver of bus, financer abettors and others to be ascertained during the investigation, therefore, court may send them to customs department on physical remand.
After his arguments, court sent them to jail and directed jail authority to produce them on before the court on next date of hearing.
