KARACHI: Investigation officer Muhammad Zafar Arshad produced statements of two musheers in Customs Court on Monday against suspects namely Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex and others, who were nominated in a case of attempting to smuggle 52,158 kilogram betel nuts worth Rs 6.91 million in Karachi.
During the hearing, the investigation officer submitted two musheernamas of Hussain son of Ahmed and Sultan Mehmood son of Tariq Hussain.
According to them, “on February 28, 2018, they were accompanying at AICT, Karachi, meanwhile, both of us were summoned by Appraising Officer Shahzad Ahmed to witness examination of three containers imported by M/s Ajmair Impex, Lahore. In our presence, the customs staff of AIB/R&D broke seals of all three containers and Appraising Officer Ahmed carried out physical examination of the goods which resulted into the recovery of betel nuts from each container packed in jute bags instead of galvanized plain sheets as declared on relevant goods declaration.”
The recovered betel nuts were seized by Appraising Officer Shahzad Ahmed vide a musheernama prepared on the spot, contents of which were read over and explained. After accepting the contents of said musheernamas as correct, they affixed their signature on it, they cannot recall deemed as essential part of my statement.”
Earlier, investigation officer produced statement of the complainant Shahzad Ahmed in which he stated that, “I do hereby state that in pursuance of information about smuggling of betel nuts under the guise of Galvanized plain sheets, I had examined three containers imported by M/s Ajmair Impex Lahore from Jebel Ali, UAE arrived at Karachi Port, the said consignment was meant for customs freight station, NLC, MCC Appraisement, Lahore under transshipment to be transported by bonded carrier M/s Docks Pvt Ltd Karachi. For the clearance of said consignment, a transshipment goods declaration was filed.”
The complainant said that upon physical examination carried out in presence of two independent witnesses,all three containers were found stuffed with betel nuts packed jute bags instead of declared description on the face of said goods declaration. The recovered betel nuts on weigh was found to 52158 kilograms and I seized it under section 168 of the Customs Act, 1969 and a notice in this behalf was served upon the custodian M/s Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT).
According to him, after completion of required formalities, I lodged FIR of the case in the customs court and lodged FIR contains all material particulars/ information addresses of importer, bonded carrier, container numbers, goods declaration number etc, therefore, it may be treated as integral part of this statement of mine”.
It needs to be mentioned here that on last date of hearing, investigation officer Customs Collectorate Appraisement West Customs House Karachi had submitted interim charge sheet against suspects namely Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex, Muhammad Khalid son of Usman, Operational Manager of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Sunny Raj, Project Manager M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Shehzoor Hussain son of Ghulam Hussain, Loading Supervisor of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Syed Uzair Ali son of Syed Afaq Ali, computer operator of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Mansoor Ahmed son of Naseer Ahmed, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd, Arbab Khan son of Ishtiaq Muhammad, Director of M/s Docks Pvt Ltd and others.
Investigation officer further informed the court that during the investigation, it was revealed that the above mentioned suspects declared goods on the basis of fake NOCs Galvanized Plain Sheets prime and secondary quality, quantity 52050 kilograms valued at US 15094.50 equivalent to Rs1,701,468, however, during the search, officials of the customs authorities recovered 52158 kilograms betel nuts valuing to Rs 6,916,151, he submitted that they also evaded the amount of duty and taxes in the tune of Rs. 8,57,176.
According to the interim charge sheet, names of Shahzad Ahmed, Appraisement officer Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, Hussain son of Ahmed, Sultan Mehmood and Muhammad Zafar Arshad have been mentioned in the charge sheet as witnesses of the prosecution.
Moreover, court had sent suspect Sohail Ali, proprietor of M/s Ajmair Impex to Lahore booked in another case registered in Lahore.
