KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) has lodged an FIR against M/s Laiba Industries Pvt Ltd and several others for illegally removing goods from Export Processing Zone (EPZ) to local markets and warehouses.
Sources told that information was received through Director Yaqoob Mako to Additional Collector Rana Tasleem that some suspects were involved in the illegal removal of foreign origin fabric from Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) on the basis of fake documents.
Deputy Director Tausef Gorchani constituted a team under the supervision of led by Intelligence Officer Muhammad Sadiq to enhance surveillance and foil any attempt of such illegal removal/clearance of fabric.
Subsequently, Customs I&I team intercepted five Mazda trucks near Karachi airport. During preliminary investigation, the drivers of the vehicles disclosed the cloth was loaded from a warehouse near KEPZ for its further transportation towards Godhra.
The drivers were asked to produce imports documents in support of lawful possession and transportation. The drivers provided Gate Pass, weighment slip issued by KEPZ weighbridge and permission of Principal Appraiser Export (PMBQ), EPZ pertaining to Gate Pass.
Examination of the intercepted trucks found that the fabric on these trucks was foreign origin finished fabric, which was illegally and fraudulently removed from KEPZ under the cover of irrelevant documents.
During initial investigations, it was revealed that fabric removed from KEPZ loaded on five trucks as mentioned in gate passes have already been dumped at a private warehouse of M/s United Enterprises.
The warehouse of M/s United Enterprises which is located in Landhi was searched, which led to recovery of large quantity of foreign origin fabric.
The fabric loaded on five trucks and that found at the warehouse has been seized and an FIR is lodged against M/s Laiba Industries, and drivers of the trucks. Investigations are underway.
