SOST: Collectorate of Customs Gilgit-Baltistan has recovered 3,366 liquor bottles of different Chinese brands and 99 portable two-way Radio SMP-418 walkie-talkies from a shipment pertaining to CPEC projects by M/s Sheng Tong International Trading (Pvt) Ltd via Sost dry port.
The total estimated value of seized goods, concealed under plywood bundles, is Rs20 million.
Gilgit-Baltistan Deputy Collector Asfandyar Khan told Customs Today that he received credible information that an attempt would be made to smuggle a huge quantity of Chinese-origin liquor by some unscrupulous elements in the garb of consignments pertaining to CPEC projects. After receiving the said information, the Customs staff of Silk Route Dry Port (SRDP) was ordered to make the examination of all such consignments tightened.
The sources said that during a routine visit of the port premises, Deputy Collector Asfandyar observed that packing of six plywood bundles seemed suspicious; therefore, a team of officials immediately constituted to carry out detailed examination of the said consignment.
After conducted detailed examination of the consignment, it was revealed that Chinese-origin alcohol was concealed by the importer M/s Sheng Tong International Trading (Pvt) Ltd inside the plywood bundles.
During checking, Customs staff recovered 3366 bottles each 500ml, portable two-way Radio SMP-418 (walkie-talkies) 99 sets along with accessories those were declared as per GD No. GBSI-HC-392-05-10-2018
The case has been registered under Section 2(s),16 which is punishable under section 156(1)(8)89 of the Customs Act,1969. Sources added that the detecting staff includes Superintendent Sardar Manzoor, Inspector Asifullah and Amanullah.
Further investigations of the case are still under process till the filing of this report.
