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Customs probe duty evasion Unknown goods imported as medicines for Edhi

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs (Preventive) is investigating into a case of dubious imports declared 'medicines and vaccines' made in the name of Edhi Welfare Trust through Air Freight Unit (AFU) at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport which resulted in the loss of revenue to the government, informed sources revealed.

The value of consignment, as mentioned in the bill of entry, is Rs. 500,000, whereas the freight paid by the party from London to Karachi was Rs. 425,000. The Customs investigators have yet to find out the actual nature of goods imported and the amount of duty evaded.

The main problem in the way of investigators is that the import documents for the consignments are missing from the Customs record as well as from PIA which has led the investigators to believe that some PIA, staff also connived in the clearance of consignments without Customs duty, sources added.

Customs has transferred an assistant collector, Hasan Sardar, a famous hockey player, who was on duty at the time of clearance of consignment, while some other staff members have been suspended. A report has been sent to the CBR for action against the Customs staff who are suspected to have had a hand in clearance of the dubious consignment.

The investigators have also interrogated the clearing agent in whose name the bill of entry was filed who had stated that he sold the bill of entry to some other person for Rs 500. Under the law a clearing agent is not allowed to sell a bill of entry.

Sources said that the investigations had taken a new turn after the registration of a FIR and arrests could be made any moment.