FAISALABAD: Customs Adjudication Faisalabad Deputy Collector Muhammad Saeed Asad issued Order-in-Original (ONO) by declaring the confiscation of a non-duty paid vehicle lawful, which was impounded by the Model Customs Collectorate Faisalabad.
As per the details, a Toyota HiAce van was cleared by Abdul Ghafoor, an accused, through Faisalabad Collectorate under the amnesty scheme following SRO 172(1)2013, which was later produced for physical inspection to the department along with an affidavit that the said vehicle was neither tempered nor stolen.
Meanwhile, credible information was conveyed through the Faisalabad Customs collector that a foreign-origin smuggled Toyota HiAce Van (used) bearing registration number LES-13-7276 has been presented before the customs staff of Import Branch seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC).
During the inspection of the said vehicle, suspicion arose that the chassis number of the vehicle was tampered with, on which the vehicle was sent for a laboratory test to get confirmation whether the chassis number was tampered with or not.
However, the chemical test proved that the chassis number was meddled with, and the vehicle was smuggled into the country without payments of duty/taxes leviable thereon.
On the other hand, no one appeared to defend the case from the respondent’s side, nor did any written reply was sent to counter the allegation before the court.
Therefore, order for outright confiscation of the impounded vehicle in favour of the federal government under Section 156(1)89(i) of Customs Act, 1969 was issued by the Customs Adjudication.
