KARACHI: Customs Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi has sent a suspect, Baz Muhammad son of Dost Muhammad, to Central Jail, Karachi, for his alleged involvement in tortoises smuggling case.
The authorities had arrested the suspect when he was attempting to smuggle 350 live tortoises, said to be Central Asian Tortoise or Afghan Tortoise, “Testudo Horsfieldi”, wroth Rs 1,750, 000.
During the hearing, investigation officer informed the court that officials of the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) intercepted the accused, who was carrying tortoises in five wooden crates. The tortoises were brought from Balochistan. The court directed jail authority to produce suspect before the court on the next date of hearing.
According to the FIR, case was registered in violation of section 2 (s) 16 and 178 read with Import/ Export Control Act 1950, further read with Balochistan and Sindh Wild Protection Ordinance, 1972 etc, punishable under clauses 8, 9 and 89 of section 156 of the Customs Act 1969.