LAHORE: Customs Appraisement Investigation and Prosecution has lodged an FIR against illegal clearance of Toyota Flying Coasters worth Rs 513 million, sources told Customs Today.
According to details, 171 coasters were imported from Hong Kong and cleared from NLC Lahore Dry Port. It was reported that the coaster were fraudulently cleared on fake documents by the importer and got cleared by clearing agent.
The sources said that according to the law vehicles older than five years cannot be imported by law but the importers imported the vehicles manufactured in 2000-2001 as 2010-2011.
The sources said that customs investigation team got the detail of the buses from Hong Kong that disclosed that the vehicles were scraped and could not be imported. The busses have been imported by different importers including Shakeel, Amjad and names of ex-customs officials are also in the list.
It was said that investigations are revealing name of more persons involved in the illegal import while the customs has confiscated nine coasters running on the roads and cases of clearance under section 195 0f customs Act are reopened before Customs Adjudication.
Another interesting fact has also been probed that the accused person have not only committed fraud to the Customs but also with the finance money of at least five banks and leasing companies including Orix Leasing Company, Standard Chartered Bank, JS Bank, Burj Bank and others, the sources said.
It was reported that the mega scam was unearthed by appraisement Additional Collector of Customs Yasin Murtza. The sources said that Customs Investigations and Prosecution is investigating the case and more thrilling facts are likely to be revealed.
