ISLAMABAD: Deputy Collector Adjudications Shahid Jan has ordered to release the foreign origin smuggled goods worth Rs 674,271 on payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon plus a redemption fine equivalent to 30 percent of the appraised value of the seized goods. He also ordered the release of the offending vehicle against a penalty of Rs 40,000.
According to details, a customs team intercepted a bus bearing registration no. Z-2410-which was coming from Peshawar. The detailed search of the bus led to the recovery of foreign origin goods. On demand, the bus driver failed to produce any legal proof of the import. The recovered foreign origin smuggled goods along with bus were taken into possession and were seized.
A criminal case was got registered against the accused persons and FIR No.77/2016 has been lodged, the arrested accused person was produced before the Special Court of Customs, Taxation & Anti-Smuggling Rawalpindi /Islamabad. The court send the accused persons on judicial remand for 14 days. On 25-11-2016 Nawab son of Khush Dil appeared before the Superintendent mobile squad MCC and submitted an application stating therein that these persons are the real owners of seized goods (1) Raz Muhammad S/o Gul Muhammad R/o Mohallah Abbas Colony Sheru Jangi Peshawar, (2) Muhammad Ibrahim S/o Haji Ameen Khan R/o Charsda Road, Ashrafia Colony, Street No. 4, Mohallah Deen Bahar Colony, Peshawar, (3) Salahudin S/o Shah Wali Khan R/o Mohallah Hashim Khan Kasku Huna Mardan, (4) Aqibullah S/o Saveed Khan R/o Muslim Town G.T Road, Chugulpura House No.1 Street No. 2 Peshawar and (5) Qareebullah S/o Adam Khan R/o G.T Road, Chugulpura House No.1 Street No. 2 Peshawar.
Prior to the issuance of show cause notice, the respondents submitted an application for release of seized goods and requested for summary adjudication of the case on payment of levible duty/taxes. Deputy Collector has said in his Order in Original that I have come to conclusion that the respondent have failed to provide valid legal documents regarding lawful import of the aforementioned seized foreign origin goods. It means that the seized items are non-duty / taxes paid.
Moreover, the respondent stated during the hearing of the case and expressed their willingness to pay duty & taxes on these items, which is implied confession on their behalf that seized foreign origin smuggled were brought into the country without payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon. The total appraised value of the seized items is Rs.674,271/-, which when divided over by 6 owners / claimants is less than the statutory limit of Rs.1,50,000.
Keeping in view the willingness of the respondents for payment of duty/taxes and non-applicability of statutory limit of Rs. 1,50,000, an option is allowed to the rightful owners to redeem the same on payment of duty and taxes leviable thereon plus a redemption fine equivalent to 30% of the appraised value of seized goods in lieu of confiscation.
