KARACHI: The Research and Development (R&D) Section of Model Customs Collectorate-MCC Appraisement (East) in its fresh move has arrested an accused who was involved in importing of banned antibiotic from India and other parts of the world and violated SRO193(I)/2012.
The team of R&D-MCC Appraisement (East) comprising Malik Hashim (Preventive Officer), Azhar Abbas (Examining Officer), Adil Kamal and others on a tip-off raided at a place and arrested an accused, who was allegedly involved in importing banned antibiotic.
The sources revealed that the officials of R&D Section while following the strict directives of Chief Collector-Appraisement (South) Nasir Masroor Ahmed and Collector-MCC Appraisement (East) Manzoor Hussain Memon is not able to disclose the identity of the arrested.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Collector-Appraisement (South) Nasir Masroor Ahmed has asked the authorities concerned of MCC-Appraisement (East) and MCC-Appraisement (West) last month to scrutinize the clearance data of pharmaceuticals imported from different destinations.
Following the directives of the Chief Collector-Appraisement (South), the authorities concerned of MCC-Appraisement (East) and MCC-Appraisement (West) have started to scrutinize the clearance data of pharmaceuticals in which the R&D Section of MCC-Appraisement (East) found that more than 80 consignments of banned antibiotic have been cleared from the Collectorate during the period from 2012- to 2014.
On the other hand, the AIB Branch of MCC-Appraisement (West) found that nine consignments of said antibiotic have been cleared during the period from the year 2012 to 2014.
Subsequently, the initial investigation into the matter revealed that the importers and clearing agents, who were involved in this heinous crime were managed to escape from the country and they are living in United Kingdom (UK) and China along with their families in the capacity of overseas Pakistani.
The Appraising Intelligence Branch (AIB/R&D) of the Model Customs Collectorate-MCC of Appraisement (West) first registered an FIR against the main accused Ziauddin of Chemi Zone and clearing agent Muhammad Hussain Rajwani of Rajab Ali & Sons in their involvement in clearance of the consignment of “Cefixime”, antibiotic from India during November-2014.
In the FIR, the authorities concerned of AIB/R&D were of the view that some unscrupulous importers were involved in clearance of certain items from India which were otherwise not importable in terms of Appendix-G of the Import Policy Order-2013 in vogue.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs authorities may contacted to the Interpol for the arrest of the wanted accused in importation of banned antibiotics into the country.
