KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has recovered millions of rupees from the importers of black pepper after putting few consignments on hold on suspicion of incorrect assessment.
Earlier, the black pepper was being assessed at the rate of $2.15 per kilogram imported from Vietnam on the agreed prices.
Taking strong exception to the reports received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Karachi region, the Additional Director Customs Intelligence and Investigation-FBR-Karachi Farrukh Sajjad observed that the goods from same country of origin were also being imported and assessed at the rate of $8.70 per kilogram.
After consultations with all the Model Customs Collectorates and improving the investigation it was also revealed that as per price list being generated by the International Pepper Community shows the value of black pepper from Vietnam at the rate of $7.41 per kilogram and white pepper at the rate of $11.57 per kilogram.
Therefore some consignments of black pepper lying at West Wharf were put on hold and a letter was sent to the Collector MCC-Appraisement-West to consider the actual prices of black pepper being generated by International Pepper Community.
Finally a valuation ruling No. 743/2015 was issued by the Customs Valuation Department fixing the prices of Black pepper whole under PCT 0904.1110 of Vietnam, Madagaskar, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil will assessed for duty and taxes at $4.3 per kilogram. Black pepper whole under PCT 0904.1110 of all other origins would be assessed at $4.5 per kilogram.
White pepper whole under PCT 0904.1120 of Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka will be assessed for duty and taxes at $4.7 per KG. White pepper whole under PCT 0904.1120 of all other origins would be assessed at $4.9 per kilogram.
The efforts of the Directorate of Customs I&I-FBR-Karachi region on the above mentioned subject goods resulted in the recovery of further 11 per cent duties/taxes (@4.30 per kilogram) from the consignments of black pepper which were put on hold.
