KARACHI: Collectorate of Appraisement East led by Collector Nadeem Memon registered an FIR against M/s Al-Aswed Associates and others who attempted to clear restricted goods through mis-declaration with active connivance of Sohail Shams of M/s United Marine Agencies (UMA), an agent of shipping line KMTC.
According to FIR, M/s Al Aswed Associates imported consignments declared to contain “shippers load, count & seal (300 bales) Cy/Cy used cloth” weighing 20,000 kgs, manifested to have been shipped from Ningbo, China. The information further revealed that the importers in active connivance with their clearing agents and other accomplices mis-declared the description, quantity, origin and classification of the imported goods by submitting false, fake and fabricated information to evade legitimate government revenue. The examination of the subject consignments found the goods to be polyester plane pile fabric in rolls and velvet prayer mats instead of declared used clothing. Total customs value of the consignment ascertained as US$108,392 or Rs 17,234,328 and total duties and taxes worked out as Rs 1,060,669,482.
The Collectorate lodged FIRs against Imran Haroon of M/s Al-Aswed Associates, clearing agent Qaiser Abbas, Muhammad Idrees, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ahsan and others and started further investigation. Preliminary inquiry revealed that M/s United Marine Agencies of Sohail Shams filed Import General Manifest (IGM) of this consignment with incorrect information and committed a fraud by issuing false bill of lading by mentioning incorrect description of the goods.
Customs Today has been extensively reporting about blackmailing of UMA and KMTC and demanding additional demurrage and detention charges from importers. Even importers filed 13 applications to lodge FIRs against these shipping lines and their agents including CEO of United Marine Agencies Sohail Shams for demanding additional demurrage and detention charges from importers.
Now same agents and shipping company is found involved in mis-declarations and tax evasions again. Collector Appraisement East Nadeem Memon has already directed the staff to properly examine every imported consignment of used clothing to stop revenue leakages through mis-declarations as it was also present government’s top most priority to increase the revenue and eradicate the menace of smuggling. Appraisement East under supervision of Collector Nadeem Memon foiled several attempts of smuggling banned and restricted goods into the country in recent weeks. It is hoped Collector Nadeem Memon will not take any pressure of big groups like UMA and KMTC, adding that he will include names of UMA officials in the list of accused persons to start investigations against them as well.
Customs Today has been extensively reporting the green and yellow channel abuse in the country, after which the NAB came into action and decided to tighten the noose around green and yellow channel smugglers. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also taken action in similar cases of tax evasion through mis-declarations and taken custody of clearing agents Muhammad Idress s/o Yousaf, Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Idress and Imran Khan s/o Saifur Rahman from Central Jail Karachi. These suspects were in the custody of the customs court for evading taxes and duties to the tune of Rs74,036,216.
According to the interim charge sheet submitted in customs court against Imran owner of M/s Al-Aswed Associates, Muhammad Irfan of M/s ERA Marine Agencies, Ihtishaam and Muhammad Idress of M/s SHUFS Logistics, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ahsan, Muzamil and others, information was received that above-mentioned accused actually imported a consignment of used clothing 16600 kgs from United Kingdom contrary to actual port of loading Jabel Ali, UAE. He disclosed that during the examination of said consignment, customs officials found multi-function printers, used laptops, laptops cables, smartphones, used LG tablets with SIMs and other goods with a total value of Rs 70,874,595.
