MULTAN: The Customs Investigation and Intelligence Multan region has impounded a truck loaded with various lighting fixtures from the location of Sadiqabad in an operation following the charges of mis-declaration.
Sources said that Customs Intelligence’ Field Investigation Unit (FIU) of Sadiqabad conducted the raid to hold the truck bearing Registration No. TLY-024 coming from Sindh. The FIU team intercepted the said vehicle near Sindh-Punjab Check Post, National Highway, Kot Sabzal Tehsil Sadiqabad.
The staff asked the driver to show legal documents regarding the import of consignment on which the driver provided the import documents along with goods declaration bearing machine No.KPPI-HC-61370 showing clearance of goods from Model Custom Collectorate , Port Qasim.
Following the suspicions, FIU brought the container for deep examination of goods at their Sadiqabad unit office under Section 2(kk), 17 and 157(2) of the Customs Act, 1969, where customs detected difference in weight of consignment as the declared weight of items was not according to the actual weight.
The total gross weight of the loaded consignment was 9,800 Kilograms but at the time of clearance importer declared the net weight of the import consignment at 8,245 Kilograms and Customs Intelligence found weight difference of 1,555 Kg while examining it. The total duty/taxes were paid at the time of clearing import consignment from Karachi Port Qasim was Rs 424,346 out of total leviable Rs 937361, while remaining Rs 513,006 were evaded through mis-declaration.
It is learnt that Rajput Enterprises (NTN-4139462-3), Karachi have evaded huge amount of duty and taxes by mis-declaring the description, quantity and value of lighting and fixture articles vide GD No. KPPI-HC-6137.
The container was loaded China origin wall lamps, sealing lamps, mirror lamps table lamp, hanging light, outdoors lights, track light, pendant lights, chandelier (with music), shooting lights, porcelain holder, and spare parts for lighting fixture and glass for chandelier.
As per available documents, accused owner of the Rajput Enterprises found involved in the tax evasion through mis-declaration under Section 168 and 157 of the Customs Act, 1969 for violation of Section 2(s),18,32(1), 32(2) & 32(A) of the Customs Act, 1969, punishable under Section [156(1),10A,14,82, 90] of the Customs Act, 1969 read with 3,6,33,34 of the Sales Tax Act,1990 and Section 148(I) of the Income Tax Ordinance,2001 further read with Section 3(1) & 3(3) of Imports and Exports Control Act, 1950 & SRO 499(I)/2009 dated 13.06.2009 and 566(1)/2005 dated 06.06.2005.
In view of the above stated facts, the lighting and fixture items along with trailer No.TLY-024 and container No MSKU 4580664 were seized by Customs Intelligence Multan.
