KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) team recovered 2268 bottles of foreign whisky from consignments declared to contain food stuff imported by Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic Islamabad.
According to the details, Director I&I Irfan Javed received credible information regarding smuggling of liquor in the garb of diplomatic goods, as Customs I&I blocked a number of consignments in March, 2019 imported the Embassies of Indonesia, Syria, Algeria and Lebanon after clearance from relevant customs collectorate. Customs Headquarters was requested vide various correspondences to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nominating its representative for conducting joint examination.
The Ministry vide letter no: UOP (IV)-5/28/EC/2019 dated 22.5.2019 nominated its representative for joint examination of Indonesian embassy consignment imported vide GD No. KAPW-PP-135608, dated 16.3.2019, which resulted in the recovery of 1080 bottles of whisky (600 bottles ‘Black Label’ and 480 bottles ‘Chivas Regal’).
The Embassy of Syrian Arab Republic Islamabad vide their letter no. F.66(88)2019 dated 16.6.2019 written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad, disowned two consignments imported in the name of its diplomats. i.e. H.E. Mr. Radwan Loutfi and Mrs. Maha Al Aswad against the exemption certificates nos: 196 dated 22.1.2019 and 178 dated 21.1.2019.
Both consignments cleared vide GD Nos. KAPW-PP-136841-20.3.2019 and KAPW PP-136827 20.3.2019 from Collectorate of Customs Appraisement West Karachi had been blocked by the Directorate on information of comprising contraband goods. The said consignments were declared to contain food stuff, however examination conducted on 3.9.2019 (at BOML Terminal, West Wharf, Karachi), resulted in the recovery of 2268 bottles of whisky (672 bottles ‘Chivas Regal’, 660 bottles Johny Walker Black Label, 468 bottles James Catto’s and 468 bottles of White & Mackay) in four ballets which did not contain any food stuff at all.
Accordingly, the consignments being liable to confiscation, have been seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and further proceedings are underway.
The incident report is already submitted along with the request of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad may be reminded to expedite its decision to I&I office requests for joint examination of remaining consignments belonging to the Embassies of Lebanon and Algeria as identical mis-declaration is also suspected therein.
