KARACHI: Customs Court Judge Syed Faiz Rasool Rashdi on Monday has directed investigation officer to complete investigations and submit charge sheet against suspect namely Khalil Ahmed, owner/ proprietor of M/s Manaco International Lahore and others, who were booked in a case of attempting to smuggle 51,930 kilograms of betel nuts in the garb of plastic PMC.
During the hearing, Ghulam Asghar Mirani, investigation officer of Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, submitted another First Information Report and informed the court that on credible information, a team of customs officials intercepted a consignment destined for Prem Nagar Dry Port Lahore, at Qasim International Container Terminal, Karachi (QICT), which was going to be gate out un-examined, the goods have been imported and transshipment goods declaration filed by M/s Manaco International mis-declaring therein the goods as plastic PMC.
He further informed the court that shipper’s sealed was removed by the QICT’s staff and examination process started by the undersigned jointly with the CIU, during examination, the goods were found as betel nuts net weight 51,930 kilograms instead of the ones declared by the importers in the Goods Declaration (GD).
He argued that from the aforesaid facts and circumstances, it is established that the importers M/s Manaco International along with other accomplices have deliberately mis-declared description of the impugned goods for replacement thereof with other ones en route to the final destination, with the intent to get illegal clearance of the restricted item, they have, thus, contravened provisions of section 2 (s), 16 , 32 A, 79 and 121 of the customs act, 1969 punishable under clauses 1, 8 (i), 9, 14A, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 63 of section 156 (1) ibid read with allied laws and procedure read with import policy order 2016 as amended vide SRO 1067 (i)/ 2017 dated 20-10-2017.
He said that prosecution started investigation and trying to arrest the above mentioned suspects, after the hearing, court directed him to complete investigation and submit charge sheet within 14 days.
