KARACHI: The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation, Karachi Region, has registered a first information report (FIR) against some staff M/s members of TCS (Express and Logistics Private Limited Company) for their alleged involvement in smuggling of non-duty paid electronic gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, USBs, memory cards and wrist watches with a market value of over Rs 20 million involving duty and taxes of Rs 5.798 million.
An anti-smuggling team of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation was informed that smuggled and non-duty paid foreign origin cellular phones were being transported through TCS cargo delivery van bearing registration number KM-0852, for its subsequent illegal shipment/delivery to the open market.
In pursuance of the information, an Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO) team approached near Nursery Bus Stop on Shara-e-Faisal and intercepted the TCS van.
On query, the driver accompanied by the courier man failed to give any legal import documents in support of lawful possession/transportation of the cellular phones.
Therefore, the TCS van was escorted to the office of the directorate for detailed examination/counting and submission of import documents.
At the office, the examination of the goods loaded onto the TCS van was carried out in the presence of witnesses, driver and the courier man.
During examination, it was found that the TCS van contained 338 sets of Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony, 41 sets of Apple iPhone, 71 pieces of tablets (assorted brands and size), 12 sets of Apple iPad, 464 USBs (assorted brands), 13,638 memory cards (assorted GBs) and 26 wrist watches.
The copy of the detention memo was served upon the driver and the courier man of M/s TCS (Express & Logistics Private Limited Company). However, despite a lapse of stipulated period of three days, no import documents regarding lawful possession and payment of duty/taxes leviable thereon, were produced.
Therefore, the aforementioned recovered goods along with TCS delivery van were seized under Section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 for violation of the provisions of sections 2(s), 16, 157(2) and 178 of the Customs Act, 1969.
Notice under Section 171 of the Customs Act, 1969 was served on Muhammad Adnan Younus (courier man). The role of the TCS staff and officers concerned, involved in the smuggling of cellular phones, would be ascertained during investigation.
The sources revealed to Customs Today that investigation into the matter was in progress and hectic efforts were being made to arrest the accused and their accomplices.
