KARACHI: In a fresh development, the Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive has registered an FIR No. ASO-147/2013-Hqrs against six accused including the Managing Director (MD) of M/s Water Link Pakistan (Pvt), Ltd and an official of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in NATO containers stealing case.
According to the details, the (MCC) Preventive has nominated Captain Ghulam Mustafa, MD M/s Water Link Pakistan (Pvt), Ltd, resident of 4-A, Kehkashan Town Houses, Clifton Block No.5; Rizwan Yousaf, Manager Water Links Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, resident of House No.142, Sector 1-D, Orangi Town; Muhammad Rizwan Ishaq, Assistant Manager Operations, KPT, resident of House No. Y-25/2, 19 East Street, Phase-I, DHA; Muhammad Rafiq Shahzad, office boy of M/s Water Links, resident of Mirza Adam Khan Road, Allama Iqbal Colony, Lyari; Idrees Khan, broker of New Ittehad Shinwari, resident of Garhi Faizullah Urmar Miana Tehsil, District Peshawar; Qaiser Ali, Supervisor of M/s Water Link, resident of Hazrat Bilal Colony, Sector 8-A, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, Gali No.8, H No. ABCA-469 and Satrah Khan, owner of the Vehicle No. TLQ-857, resident of Dakha Khel, Landi Kotal, Tehsil Landi Kotal in District Khyber Agency in the NATO containers stealing case.
The Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive has also seized three containers bearing registration numbers LMSU 1400780, USAU 2059417 and MBIU 8260838 and two trailers bearing registration numbers TLQ-857 and TLC-514.
The goods recovered from the containers include parts of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protecting Vehicles in 2 wooden pallets, 3 empty wooden pallets, mud filled bags, 2 empty cardboard pallets, 7 card board pallets filled with mud, sentry cabin, generator set along with battery, one drill machine, one hammer, 2 grip pliers and other tolls and 19 rivets bold nuts.
Customs sources told Customs Today that a team of ASO, headed by Assistant Collector (Preventive) Wasif Malik on a credible information raided at a yard of M/s Water Link Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, which was an authorized bonded carrier engaged in breaking open the ISAF/NATO/US Army containers, which are being exported from Afghanistan to US through Port Qasim.
“During the raid it was found that one door of a container No. LMSU-1400780, seal no. PCCSS 3456188 loaded on a trailer No. TLQ-857 was half open and few people were inside the container. Those persons were apprehended immediately while three others were also arrested from the yard, however; the MD M/s Water Link is not yet arrested”, they added.
Assistant Collector (Preventive) Wasif Malik told this scribe that investigation is underway and the Pakistan Customs is carrying out investigation of the matter in different dimensions.
“It is a highly sensitive case and will take time for thorough investigation”, Assistant Collector added.
The case is in Customs Investigation & Prosecution (I&P) Branch headed by Javed Mughal.
According to the Incharge I&P Branch, the accused involved in stealing of the NATO containers were violating the Section 2(s) 32, 121, 128 & 178 of Customs Act, 1969 and punishable under clause 8,14, 63,64,89 and 90 of Section 156(1) ibid and sub para (iv) of para 11 of CGO 10-2012 dated 31-7-2012.
