KARACHI: Customs authorities deputed at Jinnah International Airport have recovered smuggled mobile phones and medicines worth Rs 23.16 million in separate incidents.
This was stated by Additional Collector of Customs Syed Asad Raza Rizvi and Deputy Collector DEC/R&P, JIAP Karachi Ali Raza Turabi while addressing a press conference at the Air Freight Unit (AFU).
According to details, the staff of Drug Enforcement/R&P Section intercepted six packages arrived from Lahore under PIA’s/AWB No 214-0793-6160 consignee and consignor M/s DHL Global Forwarding (Private) Limited.
On examination, at least 900 Samsung Galaxy mobile phones worth Rs 8.80 million were found in the packages. The documents supplied by the importer and clearing agent were verified through Clearing Collectorate, AFU, Lahore but the description of the same while matching with the goods detained by customs were found different.
Therefore, the goods were seized after completion of all legal formalities and a prosecution case has been registered against the importer M/s Mobile Sales and Distribution, Lahore and Clearing Agent M/s Well Done International Lahore and others to be identified during the investigation.
Similarly, the Customs DEC/R&P staff intercepted three packages on tip by Deputy Collector Ali Raza Turabi which had arrived from Quetta under Speedex consignment. Notice under section 26 of the Customs Act, 1969 were issued to the consignee and consignor through Speedex Courier Service but no body came forward to claim the ownership of the goods.
Subsequently, the said packages were examined ex-parte, which led to the recovery of assorted medicines 64100 tablets worth Rs 4.36 million of Indian, Iranian and Ukranian origin.
It is worth mentioning that during last ten days, the customs staff of International Arrival also made five seizures of assorted mobile phones 332 worth Rs 2.28 million under the strict supervision and guidance of Deputy Collector Amjad Aman Leghari.