QUETTA The staff of Transit Trade Quetta at the NLC dry port thwarted an attempt to smuggle huge quantity of almonds and chickpeas. The consignment, which originated from a foreign country and was destined for Quetta.
According to the details, M/s Hashim Impex of Lahore and their Clearing & Forwarding Agent M/s Muhammad Asif & Company of Quetta, filed a Transshipment Goods Declaration (TP GD) for transportation of almonds and chickpeas from the Land Custom Border Station at Taftan to the NLC Dry Port in Quetta. The goods were loaded onto a vehicle registered to the bonded carrier M/s M-Ehsan-ud-Din & Company (Pvt) Ltd.
Upon the vehicle’s arrival at the NLC Dry Port on May 30, 2024, officials detected that the PCCSS and RFID seals were broken, prompting an immediate directive from the Director of Transit Trade Quetta, Muhammad Ismail, to conduct a thorough joint examination.
A detailed inspection, carried out in the presence of representatives from the bonded carrier and the customs clearing and forwarding agent, revealed a shocking discrepancy: while 180 bags of chickpeas, each weighing 30 kg, were accounted for, a staggering 24,500 kg of almonds were missing from the declared cargo.
The bonded carrier and the clearing and forwarding agent are legally bound to present the consignment to the relevant customs authorities for processing. However, in this case, M/s M-Ehsanuddin and Co (Pvt) Limited, along with other implicated parties, failed to comply with the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969, and associated rules, resulting in the en route theft of the goods.
Authorities have seized the recovered goods and the vehicle involved in the incident. A formal case has been registered, and efforts are underway to apprehend the individuals who have fled the scene.
