KARACHI: Additional Collector Adjudication Shafique Ahmed Latki imposed penalties of Rs200000 and Rs50000 on M/s Dawlance Private Limited and clearing agent M/s Omal Sons Corporation respectively for evading customs duty through mis-declaration under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He also ordered timely recovery of evaded amount.
According to details, DG (I&I) of Enforcement Division got some tip-offs from reliable sources which hinted at the involvement of few importers in the import and clearance of chemical Wannate PM-2010 (Polymethylene, Polyphenylene and Isocyanate), a Polymeric MDL classifiable under the PCT 3909.3000, alluring 20 percent customs duty through mis-declaration of the PCT 3824.9091.
It is pertinent to mention here that two consignments, declared to be Wannate PM-2010 (Polymethylene, Polyphenylene, Isocyanate) imported by M/s Dawlance, were cleared through customs agent named M/s Omal Sons Corporation under the claimed PCT head 3824.9091 having relaxation of customs duty @ zero percent through online computerized system of Custom under Free Trade Agreement. The consignments were taken into custody. During the examination, the goods were found to be brown colored liquid.
Later, samples were sent to the HEJ Laboratory which reported that the goods were not unadulterated MDI but was a collection of Methylene Diphenyl Isocyanate (MDI) 37.39 percent and Polymethylene, Polyphenylene and Polyisocyanate (polymeric MDI) 62.61 percent which is classifiable under the PCT head 3909.3000.
An in-depth examination by both staffs of the Directorate of Customs (I&I) and Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University (HEJIC), established that the goods were unable to meet the criteria for classification under the PCT 3824.9091, so evasion of duty and taxes was Rs1.262million.
