FAISALABAD: Customs Adjudication Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz passed the Order-in-Original (ONO) No 72 of 2018 against Sajjadur Rehman and Ghulam Nabi in the seizure case of foreign origin black tea.
In the ONO, she directed to release the 375 kilograms of black tea against redemption fine of 20 percent of the customs appraised value in addition to leviable duty and taxes.
According to details, it was reported that foreign origin black tea would be smuggled from Peshawar by a Suzuki pick up. To check the veracity of this information a raiding party set up at Gutwala Toll Plaza. The pick up was stopped and in detail search led to recovery of 375 kilograms of black tea.
Prior to issuance of show cause notice, the respondent submitted an application and said the tea was bought from the open market of Peshawar and at the time of purchase it was not in their knowledge that it was illegal. He is willing to pay taxes and duty leviable thereon. The owner of the seized vehicle is a poor man and the vehicle may kindly be released on fine.
Deputy Collector Saima Ayyaz said in her order that the respondent in the written as well as oral submission expressed willingness to pay the duty and taxes which was tantamount to plain confession that the seized black tea was brought into Pakistan without duty and taxes.
I therefore order release the black tea redemption fine of the customs appraised value and redeem the aforementioned offending vehicle to its lawful owner against a penalty of Rs 25 thousand.
