FAISALABAD: Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication Asma Hameed has issued Order-in-Original (ONO) in favour of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) while declaring the seizure of foreign liquor bottles as legal.
As per details, the Customs Air Flight Unit (AFU) recovered foreign origin smuggled foreign liquor bottles of different brands from a suspect, Muhammad Faheem and second person named as Muhammad Bilal .
Custom AFU staff during the course of checking of passengers for Flydubai scheduled to be arrived at Faisalabad from Dubai. A hand carried black bags owned by passenger namely Muhammad Faheem and second person named as Muhammad Bilal checked by the customs staff. The bags was having doubtful status and was opened in the presence of witness which led to recovery of the foreign liquor bottles of different brands about 68 in numbers.
The customs staff forwarded the case to Customs Adjudication for further proceedings taking stance that the seized foreign liquor bottles were prohibited and brought into country without payment of duty and taxes.
In the light of facts it is clear that the seized goods foreign liquor bottles are restricted ones and brought into the country illegally, thus the same are liable to confiscation in favour of Customs Adjudication under the relevant customs law.
Further more, during the hearing of the case, no one appeared to defend the case on behalf of respondents nor was any written reply was submitted despite giving many opportunities. While Inspector Khalid Mehmood appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that the seized goods falls under the ambit of Section 2(s) of the Customs Act, 1969 read with current import policy order.
It is therefore, established that the respondent have nothing to defend against the allegation framed in the show cause notice.
After hearing the arguments, Deputy Collector Asma Hameed decided case on the basis of facts and material available on the file and issued ONO and declared the seizure of cell phones as legal under Section 156(1)89 of the Customs Act, 1969 read with Import Policy Order, 2013.
