ISLAMABAD: Deputy Collector Customs Adjudication Dr. Wajid Ali issued order of confiscation of the seized foreign fabric and released offending vehicle against a redemption fine of 20% of the value.
According to details, an Order-in-Original (ONO) passed by deputy collector, in seizure case of 154/2016 foreign origin fabric, it was mention that foreign origin fabric was recovered from a Toyota Corolla Car bearing Registration No: MA-419-ICT. The owners were identified as Aurangzeb S/o Ayaz Muhammad a resident of Mera Kachoori and Muhammad Shafique S/o Muhammad Saleem Khan a resident of Peshawar and on demand remained failed to produce any evidence documentary or otherwise. There were, therefore, reasons to believe that the recovered fabric had been brought into the country in violation of Section 2(s) & 16 of the Customs Act, 1969, and seized under section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969.
After hearing the case, deputy collector passed the order to seize the fabric and release the carrier vehicle. Moreover, the respondent expressed their willingness to pay duty & taxes on seized cloth, which is tantamount confession to that seized foreign origin Cloth was brought into the Country without payment of Duty and taxes levi-able thereon.
The seized cloth in the instant case falls under the category of notified items in terms Section 2(s) (ii) of the Customs Act, 1969. The total appraised value of the seized cloth is Rs. 813,225 and there are 02 owners of the cloth which when divided over (02) owners, is higher than statuary limit of Rs.1,50,000, therefore, order for confiscation of the seized Cloth in terms of Clause (89) & (90) of Section 156(1) of the Customs Act,1969.
However, the seized cloth was not found concealed in any specially designed cavities of the said vehicle and the prosecution also did not bring the record any previous involvement of the seized vehicle in any smuggling case.
Keeping these facts in view, Dr. Wajid Ali ordered for release of the aforementioned offending vehicle against a redemption fine of 20% of the value, with a warning that if the said vehicle is found again, involved in such activity it will be out-rightly confiscated.
