KARACHI: At least three customs officers were arrested on Wednesday on charges of clearing a shipment by mis-declaration and causing millions of rupees losses to the national exchequer.
Source told Customs Today that Director General Customs Intelligence and Investigation Shaukat Ali and the regional director were scheduled to brief the media persons about the case. However, the press briefing was postponed to ascertain the reasons of the seizure.
The source stated that the Customs officers, during the checking at the Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, intercepted four containers that were being cleared through Green Channel with the help of three customs officers.
The containers contained a huge quantity of non-duty paid clothes, mobile accessories, calculators, cosmetics, herbal beauty care products, pharmaceuticals and other valuable items. The suspects mentioned the valuables as steel scrap in the four containers and wanted to save millions of rupees duty and taxes.
The consignment was to be sent to a party at Gujranwala. A case has been lodged against the arrested officials whereas the containers have been taken into the custody. The Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigations, taking interest in the case, has directed the officers to arrest the mastermind of the case.
The authorities asked the customs officers to adopt zero tolerance policy against corruption. The Directorate General is expected to reschedule the press briefing against the mega seizure.
