ISLAMABAD: Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Ubaidullah has ordered that rightful owner of seized skimmed milk powder to redeem the consignment on payment of leveiable duty/taxes plus a redemption fine equivalent to 30 percent of the value of seized items.
The deputy collector also ordered to release an offending vehicle being used for the transportation of the smuggled milk powder against a penalty of Rs 30,000.
According to the details, Islamabad Customs Preventive assistant collector received credible information that foreign origin skimmed milk powder would be smuggled from Attock by a Toyota Hiace Van bearing registration NoLZR-2421. To check the veracity of aforesaid information, a raiding party held a checkpost at Toll Plaza Hazro and intercepted the Hiace van. A detailed search of the said vehicle led to the recovery of skimmed milk powder.
The officials asked the driver named Rashid Mehmood and another person Usman Waheed to show document regarding the legal import of the items but they could not do the same. Therefore, the recovered item were seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 after proper documentation on the spot a notice was served under Section 171 of the customs act, punishable under Section 156 (1)(89)(90) of the Customs Act, 1969 upon the said accused persons. The offender vehicle was also impounded under Section 156(1) (89)(90) and 157 of the Customs Act, 1969.
The case was sent to the adjudication where the respondents appeared in person and said that they are ready to pay duty/taxes. The version of prosecution as per seizure report is available on the record which says that the seized foreign origin misc goods are liable to confiscation in terms of clauses (89) (90) of Section 156(1) and 157 of the Customs Act 1969.
Deputy Collector Ubaidullah after hearing the arguments ordered to confiscate the item, besides giving a lenient way to rightful owner to get release his consignment after the payment of duty/taxes along with imposed fine. He also ordered to release the offender vehicle after the payment of Rs 30,000 as fine.
