Speaking at a press conference held at DGI&I, Karachi office here on Tuesday, Customs Intelligence officer Akmal Hashmi along with other officials said DGI&I-FBR HQs had received credible information, which revealed that K K Metal Industries Sambrial, Sailkot in association with customs bonded carrier Saif-ur-Rehman & Brothers (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi and others were involved in the misuse of transshipment facility to smuggle cell phones and other electronic goods under the garb of computer broken parts.
Reacting on the said information, the staff of ASO has intercepted a trailer bearing registration number TKB-682 on August 10, 2017 loaded with a 20ft container number PONU-0673711, near Mai Kolachi Road Karachi.
He said that at the time of interception, the shipper and customs seals were found broken and bonded goods were being off-loaded from the container to a mini truck bearing Registration Number KP-9342 under the supervision of trailer driver Adnan and Muhammad Junaid (local cargo carrier/agent), who was present on the spot in his private vehicle Honda Vezel jeep, bearing Registration Number BG-1072.
Moreover, he said that computer printout of transshipment permit produced by these persons revealed that the declared description in TP Goods Declaration as computer broken parts, weighing around 28.90 metric tons packed in two containers PONU-067371 and PCIU-8048660 imported by K K Metal Industries Sambrial, Sialkot. The said consignment was allowed transshipment by the MCC Appraisement (West) for Sambrial Dry Port through customs bonded carrier - Saif-ur-Rehman, Karachi.
During initial course of investigation, Adnan and Junaid disclosed that a substantial quantity of goods were removed from the container before interception and transported secretly at a private warehouse situated at third floor of Central Plaza, Marston Road, near Gul Plaza.
Consequently, the intercepted container PONU-0673711 loaded onto a trailer TKB-682, which was partially loaded in a mini truck and private Honda Vezel jeep including driver and agent, were escorted to the Directorate for conducting detailed examination of the goods to fulfill other legal formalities. Meanwhile, search of the private warehouse situated at Central Plaza was also conducted under section 163 of the Customs Act. 1969, which resulted in the recovery of huge quantity of foreign origin mobile phones (14493 pieces), LED TVs (76 pieces), satellite dish receivers (1708 pieces), Tablets (2282 pieces), Paint Markers (81600 pieces), etc worth Rs 166.15 million.
Later, both accused persons along with Rs 898,000 cash and 9mm pistol were taken into custody and legal proceedings have been initiated against them.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017