KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Appraisement South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) has seized a consignment of assorted stainless steel submersible motors worth Rs103.7 million imported by M/s Juma Khan Machinery Store, Quetta.
Sources told Customs Today that the R&D section received a credible information through Collector SAPT Ali Zaman Gardezi that some importers were involved in pasting or over pasting false or misleading labels on the imported motors, showing incorrect capacity or specifications (KW) to conceal the actual specification (KW) and avoid the correct application of Valuation Ruling No. 990/2016, which is based on KW.
Sources told that M/s. Juma Khan Machinery Store, Quetta, had filed a Goods Declaration (GD) through its clearing agent, M/s. Fair Brothers International, under the WeBOC self-assessment system. The GD was selected by the automated Risk Management System for scrutiny.
The informer pointed out the GD of M/s. Juma Khan Machinery Store, which was under process. Principal Appraiser Tariq Aziz conducted re-examination, it was revealed that the importer had deliberately tampered with the original specifications marked on the motors by pasting or overpasting false or forged labels, showing lesser KWs than the actual manufacturer’s specifications.
The SAPT said that this was a clear case of undervaluation and tax evasion, and an offence under the Customs Act, 1969. The offending goods were seized under Section 168 of the Act and notices were served upon the importer, the clearing agent and the terminal operator. The role and involvement of the clearing agent and other accomplices will be investigated further.
