LAHORE: Import section of Air Freight Unit (AFU) ICG has unearthed duty and tax evasion on import of betel leaves second time in current month.
As per details the customs authorities of AFU import section audited accounts of Customs Duty (CD) at the National Bank AFU branch and found that Baghaban Traders of Karachi in connivance with his clearing agents International Peoples agency of Ghazi Road, Lahore declared less quantity of betel leaves than actuall import.
It was revealed that Baghaban Traders filed 39 GDs from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012 at the AFU for clearance, out of which 28 GDs which pointed out total weight of betel leaves at 11,196kg while the importer and the clearing agent showed only 7,474kg of the imported betel leaves.
The customs authorities calculated that the importer and the clearing agent allegedly evaded duty and taxes worth Rs 821,900.
In this regard, the customs authorities accused the importer and the clearing agent of alteration in documents of import and evaded duty and taxes, inflicting heavy losses to the national exchequer.
According to the customs authorities, both the importer and the clearing agent have violated various sections of the Customs Act 1969.
The authorities also informed that the accused persons have not deposited GDs to the customs office in order to hide the duty and taxes evasion.
The Customs Investigation and Prosecution Department has registered an FIR in this regard and started investigation.
The MCC preventive has unearthed second evasion of duty and taxes on betel leaves during the month of December.
Earlier, the collectoarte brought to light mega Rs 26.4 million betel leaves taxes evasion.
In the case, MCC collectorate AFU officials upon suspicion audited accounts of Jafa Kash Brothers in National Bank of Pakistan which revealed that the company allegedly in connivance with its clearing agent A-One Enterprises got clearance of imported betel leaves, hiding the actual quantity of the imported leaves. The Customs I&P authorities arrested an accused in this case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the betel leaves tax evasions have started coming to light following the collector of customs preventive Mukarram Jah has taken solid measures.
He has undertaken large scale reshuffling at all the grades of the staff including additional collectors. On the other hand, he has instructed his officials to be vigilant on duty evasion and smuggling.
